PRINCE KUMAR
Ranchi, April 24: The Water vending machine which was installed for the convenience of passengers where the people used to get water at a reasonable cost is lying idle at both the stations of the city.
The machine from which cold and pure water could be got for just five rupees. The small counters inside the railway premises are taking the advantage of this by selling the water bottle to the passengers at Rs 20.
Arrangements were made by IRCTC to provide one litre of cold water at the railway station for five rupees. But due to the outstanding dues on the company providing the water vending service, it was terminated and blacklisted. The railway administration blacklisted the company on March 21 itself. But till now no other arrangement for cold water has been made.
Senior Public Relations Officer of Ranchi Rail Division, Devraj Banerjee said that for the convenience of the passengers Ranchi rail division has planned to install water vending machine at both stations of the city for which tender has also been floated.
Ranchi railway station is claimed to be world-class, but its reality is something else. Even basic facilities are not being provided to the passengers here. There is not only a problem with water in the railway station of the capital but there is also a lack of other facilities.
An automatic Ticket Vending Machine (ATVM) was installed in view of the difficulties faced by the general coach passengers in getting tickets. But this machine has now become just a showpiece. At the same time, a box has been made for mobile charging at the station, but there is no power supply here.
Escalators have also been installed in both the stations of the city which remain closed for most of the time. Passengers have to use the staircase due to the non-functionality of the escalators.
On this issue, Senior Public Relation Officer of Ranchi Rail Division, Devraj Banerjee said that escalators are functional and it is stopped sometimes for maintenance. Also, the escalators can be used both ways that is the escalators installed can be used for both going up or down which passengers are unable to understand and use staircases.
“We have also employed a person for guiding the passengers to use the escalators in case they get confused how to use them,” Banerjee added.
