Decongesting platforms to cost rlys Rs 45 cr

The railways stand to lose around Rs 45 crore a year if it decides to disallow relatives and friends from accompanying passengers to platforms at railway stations as announced recently by Railway Minister Lalu Prasad.

But the loss of revenue is the least of the worries as the ministry debates how it will implement the idea.

Rail Bhavan officials say that keeping in mind the sensitivities of the public, the railways were yet to decide how exactly they would implement the proposal.

Senior railway officials have said if such a decision were to be implemented, it would cause resentment amongst passengers.

"Everyone wants to see off his family at railway stations. They usually wait till the train leaves so that they are convinced that their friend or relative has got a seat," said an official, adding a similar idea had never been tried before.

Railway protection force officials said they had not prepared any security plan in light of the proposal to decongest railway stations.

The railways had earned Rs 39 crore from platform ticket collections for 2004-05. For the last financial year the projected figure was about Rs 44 crore.

The highest number of platform tickets were sold by Northern Railways, primarily at the New Delhi and Hazrat Nizamuddin stations. North Eastern Railways brought in the lowest platform ticket collection.

Earlier, as part of its plans to set up mega-terminals at major cities in the country, the ministry wanted to install a holding space outside railway stations where passengers could wait till their train arrived.

But it is unclear whether even these holding spaces will be able to accommodate thousands of people who come to accompany passengers to the stations.