Hyderabad, March 22: Ask him about particulars of a train, he replies in a jiffy, giving all the details, including the train number, journey route and everything you wanted to know about the train. Such is his knowledge about trains operated by South Central Railway. At 65, when most prefer personal transportation, Noor Ahmed Ali, still travels in local trains and promotes public transport system.
Meet Noor, General secretary of Suburban Train and Bus Travellers Association, which was formed in 1976 with an aim to improve train and bus services in twin cities.
“When people use public transport system, it benefits them in different ways. It reduces pollution, saves fuel and above all it is economical,” says Mr. Noor.
It all started with development of Malkajgiri Railway station. There were many employees, who used to travel by local trains to reach their respective work places. Forget about sufficient trains, the station lacked electricity bulbs, drinking water facility and other basic amenities, recalls Mr. Noor.
“Women were finding it difficult to travel by trains due to nuisance of eve teasers. That’s when we established the association to improve facilities, train halts at the station,” informs Mr. Noor. Today Malkajgiri railway station is equipped with Passenger Reservation Counter, platforms extended to accommodate more trains, a new station building and other basic amenities.
It is not just about the station or few passengers making use of the facilities at the station.
It is about hundreds of passengers, who commute on the Medchal – Secunderabad, he points out.
Since decades, the Medchal-Umdanagar route has been neglected, despite good potential for revenue generation. The demand for electrification of this route was made in 1996 but it is yet to fructify.
Apart from helping local and MMTS commuters, it can aid in decongestion of traffic at Secunderabad Railway station as many trains heading towards Kazipet, Nalgonda and Miryalguda can be diverted through Malkajgiri station, he explains.
“Like every year, the Railway Board has neglected South Central Railway with poor allocation of funds. The much-boasted MMTS phase II project is confined to announcement,” says Noor, who is also Hyderabad Divisional Railway Users Consultative Committee Member.
-Agencies