Lack of seats makes many sit on floor

Secunderabad: A number of passengers visiting Secunderabad railway station are often piqued by lack of seating arrangement on the platforms. It is a common sight to them sitting on floors near entrance, on steps at foot over bridge and at platform with their bagage, causing inconvenience to other passengers and blocking their movement, especially when the latter have to run to find their coaches and board their trains.  

“There are only a few pillars with seating around them, each able to accommodate only 7-8 people. The outcome is that many passengers, including lactating mothers, elderly persons and physically disabled can be seen sitting on the floor with their luggage," said Devender, a passenger. K Chander, who was waiting for a train with his family, said in an empathetic tone that as there were no seats vacant, they were forced to sit on the floor. They did not seem to mind as their train was expected in a few minutes, and so did several others. Even if they wanted to, who could they complain to?

"As this station is one of the busiest stations in the city, the railway authorities should provide a sufficient number of seats," is the refrain of many a passenger. “As the Secunderabad station is known for its cleanness and is one of the best in India, this cleanness will be short lived, if sufficient seating arrangement is not provided.

There are enough chances of littering," said Naveen. Waiting rooms also are not capable of finding space should all waiting passengers go to them. At any time, there are hundreds of passengers helplessly squatting on the floor. If the situation is so on a normal day, one wonders what it would be like during summer vacation and festive seasons.