The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Ensure passengers safety

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Monday, Aug 18, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Ensure passengers safety

Sophisticated AC coaches, renovated toilets, luxury coaches and introduction of new trains are given top priority in the railway budget every year, totally neglecting the issue of passenger safety. In this context, the Gautami train fire in which nearly 40 innocent passengers had lost their precious live recently must be an eye opener. The railways must dispense with the practice of using highly combustible paints in the compartments, apart from introducing user-friendly bolts and doors to the coaches. In addition, the railway protection force should be strengthened to keep an eye on unlawful elements.

I. Subhash Samuel

Ulavapadu

Need for humanitarian approach

The fire accident in Gautami Express is really a horrifying incident, and it cannot be compensated with any amount of charity to the kin of the deceased. The railways should strictly monitor the safety measures being taken on regular basis. In railway journey, it is a general practice to exchange seats and berths with fellow passengers in adjacent coaches also, as there will be vestibules. Travelling Ticket Examiners allow this on humanitarian basis, as women and the aged cannot sleep on upper berths. It is puzzling why passengers could not make use of the vestibules to move from one coach to the other when the fire broke out. Whatever it is, the railways should lay emphasis on passenger safety.

S. Vijaya Seshu

Kothagudem

Run out of ideas?

In what is being seen as an attempt to pre-empt Chiranjeevi’s political foray, TDP president N. Chandrababu Naidu is banking heavily on the NTR family’s influence on people to help him recapture power in the State. He also announced that services of the fans of Balakrishna, junior NTR and Kalyanram would be utilised. With his statements, it is clear that Chandrababu has run out of ideas politically and in terms of leadership, or else, he would not have thought of banking on the image of members of NTR family to come back to power.

K. Kanakalakshmi

Aswapuram

Star war?

There are reports in the media that actor Balakrishna is all set to enter active politics. Balakrishna has started his efforts to minimise or nullify the Chiru factor, and is scheduled to meet the TDP leaders to persuade them not to join hands with his film industry arch rival Chiranjeevi. TDP president Chandrababu Naidu too wants to take maximum mileage out of Harikrishna, Balakrishna and Junior NTR.

The TDP could have averted this situation had there been democracy in the party. More so, the party’s ideology propounded by NT Rama Rao has taken a back seat giving a room for new political outfit.

J. Nageswara Rao

Satttenapalli

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