Passengers press for more train stops and better facilities at Warora railway station jan samvad

Central Railway's Nagpur division held a Rail Jan Samvad (public interaction programme) at Warora railway station on October 22. The aim was to ensure passengers get better rail facilities and that their problems and suggestions are heard directly. The programme was held in the ticket office area of the station. Subodh Kumar, chief nodal officer and Assistant Divisional Engineer, was present. Passengers put forward several important demands, including improvements to station facilities.

Warora station manager Chetan Meena, Senior Section Engineer Rakesh Kumar and Commercial Supervisor Pramod Devtale were also present.

The railway administration sought passengers' suggestions on station cleanliness, availability of food and drink, drinking water arrangements, travel convenience and other essential facilities. Suggestion forms were given to passengers for this. Many passengers submitted their suggestions and demands in writing to draw the administration's attention.

Those present included Rajendra Mardane, president of the Warora-Bhadravati Railway Passengers' Association; Bandu Deulkar, a former president of the Rotary Club and current councillor; social workers Subhash Dandale and Atul Wankhede; and journalist Chetan Lutade, along with railway employees and ordinary citizens.

Councillor Bandu Deulkar demanded that the British-era culvert be widened and a new underpass built. According to him, Warora's population is growing and the town has spread to both sides of the station. The British-era railway culvert in Sardar Patel ward has therefore become an important traffic route. But the culvert is low and the passage narrow, which makes movement difficult for people.

Deulkar demanded that the culvert be widened as needed, a new railway underpass be built and an alternative bridge be prepared for traffic. He submitted a memorandum on this to Assistant Divisional Engineer Subodh Kumar. He expressed hope that, given the growing traffic and people's needs, the railway administration would take the demand seriously and take the necessary steps.

Association president Rajendra Mardane demanded more train halts at Warora station. He said the station has a 150-year-old historical legacy and was once known as a terminal, yet many important trains do not stop there today. He said he regretted this.

Mardane said only seven trains currently stop at Warora station, three of them daily and four weekly. He said this service falls short given the growing number of passengers, so important trains should be stopped there. He also said the passengers' association has been making this demand for several decades, but it has not received the attention it should.

Mardane put forward some more suggestions at the Jan Samvad to ease passengers' difficulties: rail services shut down during Covid should be restarted, a shed should be built on platform number two for passengers' safety, and ramps and lifts should be provided for passengers with disabilities. A written memorandum with all these demands was also handed to the Assistant Divisional Engineer.

Through the Rail Jan Samvad, local people raised questions on basic station facilities, traffic problems and train halts before the administration. Those present hoped the railway administration would make the necessary improvements after considering passengers' suggestions and demands. Rail passengers in the Warora area are now watching what concrete steps the administration takes on the demands raised at the Jan Samvad.