Kolkata, 1 August (H.S.) -

Union Minister for Railways, Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw, on Friday acknowledged the ongoing challenges of encroachment and cleanliness at Kolkata’s Park Circus Railway Station, stating that despite repeated eviction efforts, lack of support from the State Government has hampered meaningful progress.

Responding to an unstarred question raised by Rajya Sabha MP Shri Samik Bhattacharya, the Minister said Indian Railways has conducted eviction drives at the station to remove unauthorized encroachments, including hawkers obstructing pavements and limiting passenger access. However, these attempts have not achieved the desired outcome due to the absence of necessary assistance from state authorities.

Addressing concerns over safety, Shri Vaishnaw stated that Indian Railways has taken various measures to enhance passenger security, including the round-the-clock deployment of Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel and installation of CCTV surveillance systems. He noted that the deployment of security forces is dynamic and based on factors such as the station’s vulnerability, crime trends, timing, and location. Coordination with the Government Railway Police (GRP) is maintained to ensure swift action against any criminal activities.

On the issue of cleanliness, the Minister emphasized that maintaining hygiene at railway stations is a continuous effort. He outlined several initiatives taken by the Railways under the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, including installation of garbage bins for waste segregation, improvement of water disposal systems, increased frequency of cleaning services, and mechanized cleaning. He added that pest control, rag-picking, and garbage disposal are also being carried out regularly. To ensure better toilet maintenance, a 'Pay & Use' system has been implemented at the station.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh