Why are Jharkhand’s Jasidih Junction’s Facilities So Poor?

Video Editor: Purnendu Pritam

Before Budget 2019 is presented on 5 July, I decided to visit Jasidih Junction in Jharkhand’s Deoghar district that brings revenue of crores every month to the Indian Railways. However, I was welcomed by a station that was highly ill-equipped on all fronts.

Jasidih Junction does not provide clean toilet facilities, not enough seating arrangements and no hygienic food stalls.

What’s ironic is that in 2009-2010 Railway Budget Jasidih Junction was one of the 49 stations to have a multi-functional complex. This means the station should provide travellers with facilities like shopping, food stalls and restaurants, book stalls, PCO/STD/ISD/Fax booths, medicine & variety stores etc.

But unfortunately, there is no sign of any kind of development at the station.

I spoke to Manish Pandey, a commuter whose train entered platform no 5.

“I just got down from the train on platform No 5. I had to go to the toilet. But the stench from the toilet was so prominent that I came back and went outside to one of the ‘pay and use’ toilets.”

Manish Pandey, Commuter

Pandey was not the only one, another commuter Manjul Prasad was also unhappy with Jasidih station’s conditions.

“There is no water facility. There is no place to sit either. The fans also don’t work.”

Manjul Prasad, Commuter

Pandey urges the government to particularly tend to the needs of people like him who travel in general compartments.

“There are a lot of people who fall under general category. Especially people like us who suddenly make plans to travel. The government needs to consider the general category people. Either they should increase the number of bogeys or make special provisions.”

Manish Pandey, Commuter

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