The days of standing stoically or spreading a newspaper to sit on the platform may soon be over at Tatanagar. By June-end, finding a comfortable space to sit while waiting for a train will get 318 times easier.
The A-1 station under Chakradharpur railway division will be equipped with 106 three-seater steel benches, amounting to 318 seats in all. The low-maintenance and sturdy benches will be installed on five platforms and two waiting rooms of the station.
The steel benches have been procured with funds from Rajya Sabha MP Pradeep Kumar Balmuchu.
Confirming the development, Tatanagar station manager O.P Sharma said the consignment of the benches arrived a few days ago and they would soon be installed on the identified spaces on the platforms and waiting rooms.
Assistant station superintendent of Tatanagar and project supervisor Malay Mallick said the steel benches would be a boon for passengers.
Despite being adjudged the best-kept station during a recently held award function organised by SER headquarters at Garden Reach in Calcutta, Tatanagar has always faced a major seat crunch, with only a handful of steel and wooden benches and cement seats around pillars. Hundreds of passengers, including the elderly, are forced to squat on the floor of the platforms or keep standing while waiting for their trains.
The new steel benches should solve the problem to a big extent.
No wonder passengers are elated.
Aloke Singh, a corporate executive and a frequent traveller, said he had been forced to stand on the station or pace up and down for hours. "With increasing passenger footfall, Tatanagar desperately needed to improve its seating arrangements. I've stood with my luggage for hours. Hopefully with the new benches, next time I won't face this problem," he said.
Thanking MP Balmuchu, a Chhotanagpur Passenger Association functionary said they had earlier raised the issue of increasing the number of seats and repairing damaged ones for the convenience of passengers.
Singhbhum Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI), Kolhan's oldest and largest trade outfit, also appreciated the move.
"If needed, we are ready to give funds to install more steel benches on platforms at Tatanagar," said SCCI president Suresh Sonthalia.
Are 106 benches enough for five platforms? Tell ttkhand@abpmail.com