OKARA: The delay in reconstruction of city railway station platforms, as part of a project to convert single track into double, has compounded passengers’ problems.

Initially, the project envisaging conversion of four kilometer-long single track into double, along with reconstruction of the main platform, was to be completed within two months, as per the railway authorities.

However, one can gauge the pace of the project work by the fact that despite passage of six months the reconstruction work was still going on with no end in sight.

The project also includes demolition and reconstruction of some British era rooms at the railway station, being used for various purposes.

Since the PML-N government took charge and Khwaja Saad Rafique became minister, the city railway station has become a busy place as almost all the major passenger trains, including Tezgam, Khyber Mail, Allama Iqbal Express, Awam Express and Jaffar Express stopped on their up and down routes there.

According to an estimate, some 2,000 passengers visit the city railway station daily to catch these trains.

The prolonged delay in completion of work on laying the double track and reconstruction of platform has multiplied the problems of these passengers as the railway station already lacked facilities like drinking water, VIP waiting room, etc.

Recently, the main shed of the platform has also been removed for reconstruction of the platform.

The main water cooler at the platform that once used to be source of clean cold water not only for the passengers but also for the residents of nearby slums, has been lying out of order for last 20 years.

Sources said that instead of completing the work at the city railway station on priority basis, the contractors have been engaged at small rundown stations like Kissan, Renala Khurd, Habibabad and Akhtarabad.

The affected passengers have appealed to railway minister to take notice of the situation and order speedy work on the project to mitigate their misery.

The city station master, when contacted, said his office had nothing to do with the ongoing project.

Basher Ahmad, who was supervising the work on track, said it was re-designed by the National Engineering Services Pakistan and approved by the project authority.

He claimed the project would be complete by June 30, 2014.

Published in Dawn, June 3rd, 2014