Dumped garbage and sewage dot the entrance to Cuttack railway station. Pictures by Badrika Nath Das

Cuttack, Sept. 13: Lack of coordination between the railways and municipal corporation over disposal of solid waste has turned the city’s gateway — the Cuttack railway station — almost into a dump yard.

Though the railway authorities claimed that they were doing their best to maintain all-round sanitation on platforms and at toilets in the railway station, a different story emerged when The Telegraph went to make an on-the-spot assessment of the what the officials said.

Polythene carry bags, food packets, earthen tea cups and other solid waste were found dumped at several places on the station premises, while passengers had a tough time negotiating with muck and sewage near the pre-paid autorickshaw and taxi stands.

“We are disposing of the garbage generated both inside the station and outside,” said a senior railway official.

However, parts of the railway station fall in wards 34 and 35 of the Cuttack Municipal Corporation, which is responsible for collection and disposal of solid waste generated from various localities.

“Though the platforms are clean with adequate dustbins placed at various points, waste, particularly polythene wrappers, are scattered all over the station premises and even in surrounding areas,” said Girish Rao, a passenger from Andhra Pradesh.

Rao said a lot of street vendors selling dahi vada and other food items were also dumping their waste on the roadside. There are more than 30 hotels in front of the gate No. 2 of the railway station. The civic body has failed to ensure that these hotels, restaurants and several other eating joints near the railway station do not dump their waste on roadsides.

Councillor of ward No. 34 Jyotirmayee Behera admitted that there was lack of coordination between the civic body and the railways regarding disposal of solid waste.

“The issue of disposing of solid waste generated from areas around the railway station will be discussed with railway officials. Solid waste that are generated from various eateries and other shops around the railway station are being regularly dumped near the Railway Settlement School,” she added.

The councillor said that the corporation had already issued notice to a number of hotels near railway station asking them to dump their waste in a dustbin placed in the area. This will facilitate better disposal of solid waste generated from the area, Behera added.

Councillor of ward No. 35 Sriram Pandey also said that efforts were being initiated by the corporation to sweep the main road leading to the station twice a day. Some passengers also alleged that there was no provision for toilets and drinking water outside the railway station.

“Though there is a public toilet near outside the station gate near No. 2, most people relieve themselves in the open space in front of the Cuttack Government Railway Police station,” said Kishore Swain, a passenger.