I took off for a ride to LPI and Hitec City to check out the crowd at Hitec City Station (and write about it, of course :)).
Here are the observations.
1. The 6.50 local to LPI that I expected to board from SC was late by 20 minutes. Apparently, it is a connection to a DHMU from Umdanagar ( UR ) to Falaknuma ( FM ) and the DHMU was running late by 15 minutes ( Why ??? ) .You know the rest.. 
2. Added to it was a surprise that it arrived on pf # 10.
So, the locals in the morning hours are being admitted onto pf #10. Hey, anything but a delay, I thought.
3. Operations should think of decoupling DHMUs and MMTS.
It is easier said than done but well worth doing it anyway.
4. Incoming Godavari Express was stabled on #6 (!!) and outgoing A.P was announced to be on #1.
5. As we crawled out of SC, we picked up speed until the R.P Road over pass and coasted to a halt at James Street.
I was on the platform side of the coach during the remainder of the journey and could not see much of the scenes at SNF. Well, I was testing an old CPU fan to work like a dynamo. More on that when things shape up.
6. We reached LPI and crawled into pf #6. As I chatted with the driver, I enquired of the reasons for the delay and found out about the DHMU connection that I had mentioned earlier.
I decided to take the 8.40 HYB local back to Hitec City. Meanwhile, the “railfan” in me was getting restless. After the customary chai-coffee, I climbed the FOB over to reach pf #1.
7. There was a WDG4 waiting with a BOXN coal rake. Apparently, all the goods rakes are being detained for hours together due to MMTS rakes. Point taken!! They could as well lay an exclusive freight line which leads straight to SNF but via Miyapur, Jeedimetla and joins the single electrified line close to Suchitra underpass on NH-7.
8. Somebody must tell the SM at LPI that they could take all HYB locals onto pf #1 and all SC locals onto pf # 6 or vice versa. There was a lot of confusion at the last minute due to ill-timed and inaccurate announcements on the PA system. I was told that yesterday, an old lady lost the connection to the outgoing Gautami Express due to such mischief. It does not take an Einstein to figure simple things out!! The SM could not tell me 10 minutes before departure which pf will be used to admit the 8.40 local to HYB. I had to sprint back to #6 at the last minute, and it was unpleasant, to say the least. By this time, the Wadi - HYB Passenger halted and left LPI so silently that I did not notice it until I saw passengers ascend the FOB from #2.
9. Before I left LPI, the goods rake on #4 left for SNF, hauled by a WDG4. I could not get the loco details in the midst of all the running around over the FOB. I guess I am getting old(er) :P.
10. I reached Hitec City taking the 8.40 local out of LPI.
I was pleased to see people waiting hungrily at Chandanagar and Hafeezpet stations. As I alighted at Hitec City Station, I decided to head out for a smoke, noticing the crowd that got off on the other platform, perhaps from a HYB - LPI local. I don’t quite remember the time. It must have passed rather quickly.
Observations at Hitec City:
a) The shelters do not cover the entire platform.
What happens when there is rain or hot sun?
The crowd is large during peak hours, specially in the evening.
Extend the shelters along the entire length of the platform. Apparently, the DRM has promised something… Vijay, please keep us updated on the same.
b) Inadequate seating arrangements
Where do passengers sit when there are no more places to sit?
Additional benches/ concrete slabs needed for seating must be erected immediately.
c) The toilets are an embarrassment. It is just gross to even try and describe them. I lodged a complaint about this issue.
The relevant complaint number is 108073.
The drain pipes of urinals were removed and the toilets had cisterns that were mercilessly destroyed. They were hanging on to their dear life.
Is this how railway officers maintain bathrooms in their homes??
I hope not!!!
There were two urinals, of which one was under repair.
They are grossly inadequate for even a single train, considering the increased traffic and the pathetic maintenance.
We need more urinals, preferably five, on the other platform.
I was rather upset that basic needs have not been recognised, realised or otherwise deliberately neglected, which is even worse.
I spoke to the Chief Health Inspector at SC about the same in person.
d) I also noticed that nearby labourers were stealing railway water from the taps. After a stern warning, I let them off the hook.
In addition, towards the LPI end of pf#2, the three drinking water outlets had their tiles stolen and the unit at the end of the platform had even the taps stolen.
The security guard from Eagle Vision Security was asleep, unmindful of the undesirables sleeping on the platform.
Why is the security so lapse? If this is the condition during broad daylight, we can imagine the situation after dusk.
e) During peak hours, both in the morning and evening,
there is a definite need for an extra hand at the ticket counters.
f) The density of the cab / auto traffic observed on the spinal road from 0900 hours to 1030 hours is to be seen to be believed.
Therefore, there needs to be a traffic polieceman/woman to regulate the traffic that is bound for the station parking lot.
I managed to regulate some of the traffic along with the policeman. Poor chap! He was wilting in the heat.
The APSRTC must be dreaming if they attribute the absence of link services to the station to poor patronage. They must certainly have circular routes from the station to Cyber Towers.
11. After a somewhat detailed survey of LPI and Hitec City,
I took the 1100 local to FM and alighted at SC, where I walked to the Chief Health Inspector’s Office on pf #1 and had a one-one discussion on the complaint mentioned earlier in this report.
In addition, I requested him to develop a 3-5 min video clip to
be aired on the CCTV. The clip should describe the locations of all the toilets, among other facilities on the station premises.
As for the number of toilets, it is a grand total of 2 (!!!), one on pf 6/7 at the MLY end and the other on pf #1 in the waiting hall.
( corrections welcome ).
The video should also describe the technicalities,
the physical and financial damage to the premises caused by seemingly innocuous act of relieving oneself on the tracks, walls and signal boxes, to name a few.
Too much to rant about… where is the initiative in SCR?? Their problems are ours and vice versa. If only they shared them with us openly, we could solve faster in unison. Last but not the least, railway staff members, Pride yourself in IR, as much as we do!!!
More to come as things unfold.
ananth
