BANGALORE: Located in the Eastern region of Bangalore, Banaswadi is a clean and peaceful residential area that is developing at a rapid speed.Residents here however seem to be perturbed with the lack of facilities in the Banaswadi Railway Station.The station has only one platform and witnesses over 500 passengers on an average everyday.The station lacks all basic requirements such as timely maintenance, drinking water, toilets and security guards.Maintenance: The floor is never clean and the tracks filthy.There are overgrown plants surrounding the station which are never trimmed.The platform has only a couple of seats which are broken here and there.The floor too is filled with wrappers and plastic bags.Drinking water: There are two ports built to provide drinking water but none of them work.The ports have been placed at the beginning and end of the platform.They are devoid of taps and are now used as waste bins by commuters.Said Muraildhare, a commuter, “I have been travelling from this station for almost a year now and not once have I seen drinking water available for the passengers.” Toilets: The commuters suffer at the station because the toilets are always closed.There is a toilet which is built at the end of the platform.The toilet seems to be decent enough for a quick wash up but it is never open.Since it is always shut, the passengers move behind the toilet to urinate.The whole station suffers from lack of water supply.The public relations officer for Bangalore railways, Biswas commented, “The station master should have locked the toilet for some reason.However I will make sure that he is questioned for this inappropriate behaviour.We will make sure that the basic necessities to all the passengers are provided.” Security guards: The station doesn’t have even one security guard.This has resulted in people smoking on the platform.A store owner at the station said,“ You can find so many people smoking on the platform.At times cops come here on patrol to keep an eye on things.If they find someone smoking they walk away by fining them `20 to `30.” The platform has become a hub for all love birds from the area.One will find kids from surrounding slum areas coming here to kill time.There are also drunkards who come to the station to take a quick nap.“There is no security what so ever.Luckily no criminal activities have taken place so far.Apart from this there are a lot of people who cross the tracks to get to the other side.If a train is stationed there then they crawl under the train to get to the other side,” Muralidhare further added.Basic necessities: The station does not have even one phone booth or coin booth.There are no first aid kits to be seen at all.Also, the station lacks seats for passengers.Only half the station has shelter.Muraildhare commented, “The station master doesn’t even come out of his room.No one keeps an eye on anything.The station has been in this state for a very long time.There must be someone to maintain the place.It is a nightmare for us daily travellers.” O n q u e s t i o n i n g Housepeer, the station master, he refused to make any comments.However, the public relations officer for Bangalore railways, Biswas said, “This is a small sub-urban station.Only local trains pass by here.Even commuters are less in number.” “However I will look into the problem and inquire with the station master and authorities about the various issues here and make sure that strict action is taken.I will file a complaint and impose heavy fines on all trespassers at this station.”
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