The Hindu : Lack of facilities at Chengannur bus station

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Nov 04, 2002

Southern States

Southern States - Kerala

Lack of facilities at Chengannur bus station

By Our Staff Reporter

ALAPPUZHA NOV. 3. Lack of sufficient staff and buses plagues the Chengannur KSRTC station which is likely to witness a heavy rush of passengers in the coming Sabarimala pilgrimage season.

The station which registered a record collection during the last Mandalam-Makaravilakku season is learnt to have a shortage of more than 30 staff in various sections. Here, basic facilities like a canteen for passengers, sufficient number of toilets, retiring rooms for pilgrims arriving from various States are all lacking.

The passengers association and the Ayyappa Seva Sanghom feel that the KSRTC managing director should visit the station before the pilgrimage season to take stock of the available facilities. The Ayyappa Seva Sanghom all India working committee member, D. Vijayakumar, noted that the number of schedules operating from the station has come down over the last few years.

In the place of 62 schedules operated from the station earlier, only 48 schedules are being operated at present, notes Mr. Vijayakumar. It is learnt that at least 60 buses needs to be allotted to the station to handle the rush of passengers in the coming season.

Mr. Vijayakumar demanded that the KSRTC should provide new buses to the station to avoid cancellation of schedules. Considering the need to carry out maintenance works on time the mechanical and electrical sections at the station should be provided with the service of more staff, said Mr. Vijayakumar.

The passengers complained that the station lacked a compound wall and lighting arrangements. During the rush of pilgrims this would provide opportunity to anti-social elements to operate freely from the station premises, pointed out passengers.

The KSRTC authorities at the station pointed out that the cooperation of the police was a essential for controlling the activities of the agents of illegal services operating from Chengannur during the pilgrim season. They pointed out that the operators of illegal services were fleecing pilgrims from other States during the pilgrimage by demanding high charges from them. The KSRTC authorities also requested the railway authorities to make arrangements to enable KSRTC buses to park prominently near the railway station. This would enable pilgrims arriving from various States to find buses to Sabarimala effortlessly, they said. The KSRTC authorities pointed out that the present facilities available for parking KSRTC buses at the railway station make it difficult for the pilgrims to find the buses.

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