Tea with The Tribune- Kamleshwar Mishra, DTM, Railways-Jammu division

Tea with The Tribune- jan 23

Kamleshwar Mishra, dtm, Railways
‘Expect better facilities at Jammu railway station soon’

In a tete-e-tete with The Tribune, Kamleshwar Mishra, divisional traffic manager, Railways, talked about challenges faced by the Railways and the recent decisions taken for the benefit of passengers Two students, Sanna Mir and Anam Zahoor of KC Public School, also joined The Tribune team with their varied queries. Mishra has recently taken over as the divisional traffic manager of Jammu.
Kamleshwar Mishra, divisional traffic manager, Railways
Kamleshwar Mishra, divisional traffic manager, Railways. Tribune photos: Anand Sharma

Following are the excerpts:

Jupinderjit Singh (JJS): First and the obvious one, Jammu railway station presents a shabby look despite the fact that it is one of the most revenue generating stations?

Kamleshwar Mishra: The railway station was made 50 years ago with space for far less passengers. The passenger as well as train traffic have increased manifold. Moreover, due to a lack of facilities outside the railway station, pilgrims put up on the platform, further aggravating the situation. Anyways, all that will be a thing of past soon. The Railways has decided to privatise the sanitation work. Tenders have been floated and hopefully, in the next two to three months, the work would start.

Ashutosh Sharma: Why don’t you allow vehicles to drop passengers at the main entrance leading to the platforms? Due to this, passengers, including women and the elderly, already tired of journey are seen carrying heavy luggage.
Members of The Tribune team and school students in conversation at Jammu
Members of The Tribune team and school students in conversation at Jammu. A Tribune photograph

KM: Because of security compulsions we can’t allow vehicles up to the main entrance. Giving concessions might be misused. Since multiple security agencies are involved, it is difficult to make changes immediately. But yes, old passengers should be given relaxation. I will take up the matter with the agencies concerned.

Ravi Krishnan Khajuria (RKK): There doesn’t seem to be enough space for anything on the railway station, including trains, vehicles and passenger facilities.

KM: Two new platforms would come up soon and two new rail lines are being laid. The problem of halting the train outside the station would end with this.
A student in conversation with Kamleshwar Mishra, DTM, in Jammu
A student in conversation with Kamleshwar Mishra, DTM, in Jammu. A Tribune photograph

A proposal has been forwarded to the higher-ups to remodel the existing yard. We are awaiting nod from the Railways headquarters and once we get a go-ahead, all these new schemes may take shape within next six months.

Dinesh Manhotra (DM): We have been hearing for several months now about new platforms. The Railways has not initiated any step to shift oil and gas depots and the FCI godown away from the station even as they pose a grave security threat.

KM: Certainly, we have plans to shift oil and gas terminals to Vijaypur. The oil companies have already identified a place near Vijaypur for shifting their depots there. The FCI authorities are also contemplating shifting their stores to Udhampur. It will take some time.

Sanna Mir (student): I belong to Kashmir. When would I be able to travel in the dream train to Kashmir? There were so many surveys conducted but still none could foretell the problems that have been delaying the laying of the railway track.

KM: After conducting surveys, the Railways did start the work, but tectonic

disturbance after the earthquake and the difficult topography of the Himalayan state has created some problems. For instance, a tunnel on the Jammu-Katra track collapsed.

Though I can’t comment on timeframe for the completion of Kashmir rail link, hopefully the Katra link would be completed by December this year. SM: Even work on the Jammu-Pathankot rail line is delayed.

KM: Work is going on war footing. We are trying to finish it by the end of this year. Once done, Jammu-Kathua distance can be covered in one hour.

SM: World over customer care is improving. Employees are becoming more polite and humane, but not of the Railways.

KM: Since we introduced an enquiry number 139, things have started improving and we do have a customer care institute as well in Delhi where the Railways have made it mandatory for the TTEs to undergo a 15-day module. Under this module, the TTEs are being trained to remain polite and humane towards passengers.

However, at the same time working constraints can’t be overlooked. I suggest you should sit on the other side of the window also to see how people behave. Some passengers even abuse Railways staff, particularly booking clerks, but I have requested my staff to remain polite even if someone gets rude.

Anam Zahoor (AZ): Why are there inadequate ticket/reservation counters at the railway station? There is no separate queue for women?

KM: See, it is again because the railway station was not designed to deal with heavy rush of passengers. But we are trying to streamline its functioning. We do have a separate counter for senior citizens, journalists, women and legislators. Still, I would recheck why there is no separate queue for women.

AS: Fog during winters delays arrival and departure of trains besides becoming a factor responsible for accidents. Is there no solution?

KM: The Railways has already tried an anti-collision device but that was not very foolproof. Having said that, we have plenty of options for safe and smooth running of trains in any weather like small detonators, whistle blowers and patrol staff to help the drivers. During foggy weather conditions, a small detonator explodes as the train approaches near a station to alert the driver, who in turn reduces the speed. Besides, railway tracks are being patrolled round the clock to avoid any mishap.

To take stock of the situation, I recently travelled in an engine at midnight. The visibility was poor. Still, the train did not lose much time in reaching Kathua. However, it took me four hours to return by road. Sunaina Kaul (SK): You have joined here recently. What was your most shocking experience after assuming the office?

KM: The enquiry window was not up to my expectations but now there is a system in place.

Archit Watts: What new things have you started after assuming the office?

KM: I like to meet everyone on the ground level and developing relations with them. The aim is to create self-confidence with the ground staff. The other fact is face-to-face interaction with those who generally hesitate to meet any senior officer. I think by developing these kinds of relations, workers can better communicate their message to me and it is helpful for me and the department too.

JJS: We heard that you were shocked to know there was no disaster management system here?

KM: How do you know that? Yes, there were some issues. But now we are well-equipped and prepared to meet any eventuality.

DM: Resentment is brewing among residents of Udhampur after the Railway authorities stopped inter-city train. What are the reasons?

KM: The train has not been discontinued permanently. Due to prevailing foggy conditions, we have decided to stop this train for the time being. The service would be restarted after the weather improves.