Railway fails Amarnath pilgrims

Chaotic conditions at Jammu station, no arrangement to face pilgrim rush

Tahir Mushtaq

JAMMU, July 13: During the Amarnath Yatra season when the state government is doing every possible arrangement to make the yatra comfortable for them in the state, on the other hand the Northern Railway has no such special arrangement for yartis.

On the visit of Jammu Railway Station one can observe heavy rush of tourists most of them are coming for Amarnath Yatra these days across the country.

At the reservation section of the railway authorities has made eleven counters including general reservation, tatkal reservation service and enquiry counter but only five counters are open to cope up the heavy rush of passengers.

The other counters are not working due to some reasons best known to the concern authorities due to which the passengers have to wait for hours to get reservation in long queue for their turn.

Besides this there is no sitting facility provided by the concern administration forcing to sit the passengers on floor waiting for their turn.

Moreover the condition of the toilets in the reservation section is also very bad adding troubles to their problems.

Rakesh Tiwari from Utter Pardesh said “I am waiting to take the reservation from last about 5 hours”.

He further said that from morning he was in queue where the tatkal reservation is being done but when his turn comes the counter is close and I was told by the stand in another queue for my turn.

Some passenger alleged that the railway officials black the tickets with the travel agents causing problems to get reservation for the passengers who are waiting at reservation counter for hours.

Passengers also said that the behavior of the official on the reservation is very rude to the passengers.

When contacted Divisional Traffic Manager Railway R N Meena said that at present the railway has shortage of staff due to which we are operating only five counters for reservation.

“As the recruitment process in going on so this problem will be sort out soon” added Meena.

Regarding the maintenance and cleanse of the reservation section and toilets Meena said that he will look into the matter and do the needful at earliest.