NO TAKERS: Lack of coordination between different divisions of Railways is leading to poor patronage by commuters from Malakajgiri station. - Photo: G. Krishnaswamy

HYDERABAD: Blame it on the lack of coordination between the authorities of South Central Railway (SCR) or the alleged step-motherly treatment to the Hyderabad Division of SCR, commuters plying in local trains on the Bolarum-Secunderabad section are put to inconvenience.

In what should take less than 10 minutes for commuters to reach Secunderabad from Malkajgiri in a local train, it takes nearly 30 minutes due to delay in clearance of the Secunderabad outer signal near Rail Nilayam. The situation is same with the Medchal-Secunderabad local train as well.

Regular feature

With the delay in arrival at destination becoming a regular feature, many regular commuters, including school teachers, private and public sector employees, are going either for personal transport or travelling by city buses. As a result, local trains that were once packed to the brim are now running empty.

"At times, the train stops for an hour at the outer signal. While we miss classes at school in the mornings, in the evenings we reach home late. These trains are cleared only after the Secunderabad division-operated trains are cleared," alleges Mala Ramchander, a teacher at Ravindra Upper Primary School, Malkajgiri. The regular commuters feel that the Secunderabad division trains are given priority over the Hyderabad division ones. However, railway officials rebut this charge and say that increase in rail traffic at Secunderabad station invariably leads to holding up of trains at the outer signals.

Three coaches

Whatever the reason, patronage for the local trains is coming down drastically.

"The Bolarum-Secunderabad local train which once had 12 coaches is now operated with just three coaches. Commuters avoid this train because it is never punctual," says Suburban Train and Bus Travellers Association General Secretary Noor Ahmed.

The Association has made several representations to authorities in this regard but to no avail.

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