Passengers at the Bhubaneswar railway station have to face a plethora of inconveniences ranging from non-functional LCD television sets to defunct water posts. The Telegraph takes a look at the state-of-affairs at the station 

Dead sets

Twenty-one LCD TVs were installed at four platforms to provide information to passengers as well as air entertainment programmes. But the transmission was stopped on January 14, 2012, after an employee of the private firm operating the closed circuit television cameras beamed some pornographic video clips that ran for around 10 minutes embarrassing the passengers and resulting in the arrest of the youth. 

The East Coast Railway promptly cancelled the contract with the private company.

Since then the LCD TV sets had been gathering dust. Only a couple of months back, the service resumed and information about movement of trains was being beamed. But the facility did not last long with the sets lying dead for the last 20 days. 

The erratic nature of the service has annoyed passengers. “Now, we have to come outside the platform to get 
information regarding movement of trains,” said Subhendu Mohan Nayak, a student who hails from Koraput. 

Anupama Suttar, a commuter from Bhadrak, said: “The authorities should take steps to restore the services.”
Responding to the charges, divisional commercial manager, East Coast Railway, Lingaraj Nanda said that following the January 2012 incident, the transmission had been stopped and the new tender for managing the CCTVs and these televisions were on.  

“Once the new tender process is finalised and a new party is contacted, the service would resume,” said Nanda.
Sources said that the railway at present operated the system and it broadcast information through these televisions intermittently to keep the machines in working condition. Regular broadcast will take place only when the new contract is negotiated.

Dry taps

The search for water on platform four is a big challenge for passengers as half of the 12 water posts are not working. 

The rising mercury has aggravated the plight of passengers. An official of Bhubaneswar railway station said that water posts would be repaired shortly.

Counters closed

If one thought that dry water posts were the only problem at the station, the reservation counters during rush evening hours tell one of the other difficulties that passengers face here. 

Half of the reservation counters remain closed during the evening hours leading to long queue for tickets. 

“Sometimes the queues are so long that one has to wait for hours to buy a ticket. The authorities should keep all the counters open,” said Sitram Raju, a resident of Palasa who takes night trains back home everyday.

This apart, staff shortage at the ticket vending machine makes it hard to control the crowd. 

The railway has appointed a retired employee to operate it but that is not of much help.

Text by SANDIP BAL
Pictures by ASHWINEE PATI