Thiruvananthapuram: Passengers who arrive at Thiruvananthapuram central railway station are facing inconvenience because of faulty escalators to reach the exit and lack of escalators to climb down to the platforms to board trains.On Wednesday, a few passengers were injured after an escalator on Platform 5 malfunctioned. Passengers who arrived by Vanchinadu Express stepped on to the moving escalator when it stopped abruptly making people lose balance and fall. A week ago, people who got down from trains at Platform 7 had to walk up an escalator that was not working, lugging heavy bags. Such incidents are becoming quite frequent, said travellers. The station also does not have escalators for people who want to climb down to a platform. Lifts are not adequate for the crowd at the station. Liyons J of Friends on Rails said that the escalator accident was because of negligence, and this was not the first time such snags are inconveniencing people. “On Tuesday, when a similar issue occurred, passengers reported it to the railway police aid post. When informed about the escalator moving backwards, passengers were told that the authorities concerned would be notified,” Liyons said. He said “If hair or clothing had got caught in the machinery, it could have led to a major disaster. The railways is not taking action against the people responsible for such issues.” There are snags to facilities because of redevelopment work, which has also reduced space on platforms. “Many stations are undergoing maintenance without adequate safety measures. Months ago, an accident occurred in Kollam when a sheet fell during work. Minor accidents go unnoticed. Instead of waiting to act after accidents occur, the railway should prioritize preventive measures for passenger safety,” he added.
