BHOPAL : Have you ever seen a railway station which has neither platforms nor approach road? If not, visit the Powarkheda station on the Bhopal-Itarsi section of West-Central Railways, barely 9 km from Itarsi.
The new building of Powarkheda station was inaugurated this month. However, strangely, the railway officials have forgotten to construct platforms and approach road. The station is surrounded by farm land and no vehicle can go up to the station. One has to either walk or ride a tractor.
Due to the construction of Private Freight Terminal (PFT) at Powarkheda, the old station building was abandoned and a new one constructed. The PFT operator has constructed the building with funds provided by the railways.
\The Railways have shifted the station master’s room, signaling, telecommunication equipment and other equipment to the new building this month and the trains have started halting there.
“This may be due to a technical error”, said an official. “The construction of road is the responsibility of state government and local authorities”, another official told the Free Press. “However, since you have pointed it out, the railways will look into it”, he added.
“We will soon construct the platform and approach road”, said Brijendra Kumar, Senior Divisional Commercial Manager, Bhopal Rail Division.
The passengers are also suffering due to non-availability of public amenities at Powarkheda.
