Noel Manuel
Dimapur | June 14
Commuters planning to use the railway this summer are in for a harrowing time. The heat may not be the only problem that needs to be overcome. But just buying a ticket may actually make one seethe with the lackadaisical attitude of the railway officials here. With just a single computerized reservation counter operational at the Dimapur Railway Station is in itself testimony to the Northern Frontier Railways’s (NFR) reputation for turning a blind eye to the woes of the passengers for Nagaland and neighbouring Manipur.
Of the three existing computerized counters, one has been shut down due to shortage of staff, while the other is reserved for defence personnel, leaving just one counter to cater to the thousands of inquiries and bookings that take place each day.
Disgruntled passengers, however have another story to tell. “This blame game of the railways is a ploy to compel passengers to seek the services of agents and middle men for while offering for tickets”, a lady speaking on anonymity said.
The Chief Reservation Supervisor (CRS), when contacted squarely puts the blame and criticizes the higher railway officials. He appears to be more of a friend than a foe while offering the pill to those who seek to air their grievances.
But infact, several middlemen and agents of travel agencies are often seen hanging around the backdoor of the reservation office throughout the day and this gives rise to suspicion of a nexus that cannot be ignored.
Link failures, computer breakdowns, lack of staff, unending queues are just some of the woes that would make anyone opt for the services of an agent at an extra cost ranging anywhere between Rs 50 to Rs 200 and sometimes even more. Dimapur, the second highest revenue earner of the Northern Frontier Railway (NFR) has been possessed with several problems and this is more because of the lack of public voice than the callous attitude of the officials at Maligaon.
Barely a month ago the newly appointed Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) S.S.Narayanan, had assured the people of Nagaland and neighbouring Manipur of the best possible support. He had also pointed out that “services to the public” would be his priority. However promises are easier made than kept.
Morung Express News
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