Tirupati, August 11: Leaders of various political parties have urged the Railway authorities to improve the facilities at Tirupati railway station for the benefit of pilgrims coming from all over the country.
At a meeting held with the initiative of MP Chinta Mohan, to elicit the views of leaders of various parties on the development of the Tirupati railway station as a world-class, several leaders felt the facilities and the security were not improved in tune with the pilgrim rush which was increasing steadily.
The pilgrims are facing difficulties due to inadequate facilities, more so on weekends and holidays when the pilgrim rush reaches its peak.
CPM district secretary K Kumar Reddy said that pilgrims arriving from various places were facing lot of difficulties due to insufficient toilets and drinking water facilities. He said that only two or three counters were functioning daily for issue of tickets resulting in long queues in the early hours and in the evening during which most of the trains depart from here.
BJP leader Bhanu Prakash Reddy and TDP leader Narasimha Yadav urged the authorities to involve TTD for lending a spiritual touch to the railway station.
MP Mohan said the Railways wanted the State Government to provide at least 300 acres of land for developing it as a world-class railway station and urged the RDO to identify private or government lands immediately.
RDO Venkteswarlu gave details of some lands available between Tirupati and Renigunta.
Commissioner Mohan Reddy said the road taken up by it on the southern side of the railway station, as an alternative road to the railway station, would be ready in three months.
Tirupati Railway station liaison officer Sastry said that toilets were set up on platform nos. 2, 3, 4 and 5. More of them would be provided on platform no 1. He said that safe drinking water was supplied to the passenger and efforts were on for further improvement of facilities and strengthening of security.
Congress leaders former MLA M Venkataramana, B Karunakar Reddy and others were present.
–Agencies–