Talcher: As Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Talcher Saturday to lay the foundation stone of the coal gasification-based fertilizer plant, many people arrived here by trains to reach the venue of his meeting.
However, the gross negligence of the authorities at the Talcher Road Railway Station made sure that they will never forget the place. Although the railway station looked clean and boasted of its amenities on its display board, it was just an eye-wash.
A close scrutiny of the railway station revealed its ugly underbelly.
The display board announces there are 36 water taps on the station’s premises; what it doesn’t say, however, is that most of these are unusable. The Purified Cold Drinking Water facility which was inaugurated April 1, 2017 remains just a showpiece as it fails to dispense water.
The station display board boasted about five lavatories, but their hopeless condition made sure that open defecation is the only option for the public, against which the Prime Minister is fighting through Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan.
An inspection of the toilet Saturday gave the impression that it had not been cleaned for ages. While red spit spots were galore in the wash basin, urine was overflowing from the toilets.
Moreover, the latrine which was mentioned as a “passenger amenity” was without a door, as the door was 90 per cent damaged. Many other facilities too existed only on the display board.
“The station has special significance as several express trains halt here, and connects areas like Talcher and Angul. But the mismanagement of the station authorities have made the lives of passengers a nightmare,” said Rama Shankar Mishra, a resident of Talcher and a frequent passenger.
PNN