Berhampur, June 3: The Indian Railways have initiated steps to set up more ramps at the railway station here for the physically-challenged passengers to move from one platform to another.
Khurda additional divisional railway manager S.K. Chowdhury and senior divisional commercial manager H.L. Luwang visited the railway station here today to review the passenger amenities.
"We have a ramp connecting platform No. 1 and 2. It would be extended to platform No. 3 and 4. It is expected to open within a month. A battery-operated car to transport the physically-challenged passengers will also be provided at the station," said Chowdhury.
He urged the district administration to clear the adjoining Goods Road for free passage of the passengers through the second entry to the eastern end of the station. "The trucks are obstructing the road and creating traffic congestion. While over 8,000 tickets are being sold from the counter at platform No. 1 every day, only 300 tickets are sold in platform No. 4," Chowdhury said.
"The railways have provided all essential passenger amenities at all the 12 stations in Ganjam, including Surla Road, Golanthara, Berhampur, Jagannathpur, Narasinghpur passenger halt, Chatrapur, Chatrapur Court passenger halt, Ganjam, Humma, Rambha, Khallikote and Kalijai passenger halt," said Chowdhury.
The annual earning from passengers at the station was Rs 48.30 crore last year. It has become an A-category station, according to the railway board's norms, along with Jajpur, Bhadrak, Palasa, Cuttack and Khurda under the East Coast Railway. However, Puri and Bhubaneswar come under A1 category where passenger earning is over Rs 64 crore per annum.
Chowdhury urged the passengers to use the automatic ticket vending machines through smart cards to avoid long queues at the ticket counters and also get 5 per cent discount on each ticket up to 200km.
"Passengers can avail themselves of this facility up to Bhubaneswar, Puri and Palasa from Berhampur in general compartments. Anyone can buy the smart card by depositing a minimum of Rs 70, where Rs 50 serves as a security deposit. The card is also transferable. We have installed two such vending machines at the station," Chowdhury said.
The India Post Passenger Reservation System has been commissioned at Bhanja Nagar, and a reservation facility has been provided at Army Defence College in Gopalpur, said Chowdhury.
