Be cautious while walking on the foot overbridge at Patna Junction, connecting platforms 1 to 10. If you land on undulated surfaces where tiles are broken, you might hurt yourself.

There are two such danger zones on the overbridge. One is between platforms one and two. The other is on the stretch between platform numbers 7 and 8. The other foot overbridge at Patna Junction — from the reservation counter to the Karbighaiya end — also has rough patches because of missing tiles.

Several passengers walking hastily on the bridge to board trains have suffered injuries. While some were fortunate to get away with minor injuries like bruises, few suffered grievous injuries.

On most of the occasions, passengers in a hurry were the victims. Unaware of the danger zones on the bridge, they found themselves on the wrong foot.

A railway employee posted at Patna Junction said a passenger in a hurry to board a Delhi-bound train fell on the bridge two days back. He suffered minor injury in his leg and bruises on his chin.

Fellow passengers came to the rescue of Devendra Sharma when he was about to fall on the bridge a few days ago. “Someone told me that Patna Junction is one of the modern stations in India. But I am afraid it isn’t. The claim of the railway is fake. After a tryst with the bridge I can say it will take years for this station to become a modern facility.”

Besides the risk of hurting themselves, the other irritation for passengers at the undulated surfaces is tugging their luggage. Often wheels of trolley bags get stuck in between the broken tiles, creating trouble for passengers behind.

“It is disgusting to lift the luggage at a time when you are running to catch your train. At times, it is frustrating as well. I think the railways must fix these small issues wasting no time,” said Ashok Kumar, a passenger at the station.

Several passengers are livid over the railway’s casual approach towards repairing the bridge. “I wonder, why the railway is not fixing these small things. Replacing a few broken tiles is not a big deal. We are facing problems because of the negligence of the railways,” said Ramesh Upadhaya, while negotiating one of the undulated surfaces on the overbridge.

The railways appeared least bothered about the people’s problems. Requesting anonymity, a senior official in the office of chief commercial manager, East Central Railway, said: “It (undulated surfaces on foot overbridges) looks small problem but railways has its own hurdles. We cannot fix the problem in a day. These problems have to come to the notice of senior ECR officials during inspections. Unless they intervene, we can do nothing.”

He added: “After the inspection, we can invite bids. Then the bidder would be shortlisted, who would prepare a detailed project report (DPR). Thereafter, the money would be sanctioned. I know it sounds absurd but the whole process takes eight to 10 months. This is the way the railways functions. The ECR general manager, Madhuresh Kumar, would be at Patna Junction tomorrow (Monday) to inaugurate the new pay-and-use lavatory at platform number 10. I hope he notices the broken tiles.”