Kochi: The Aluva railway station is sporting a totally different look these days. For a change, there are beautiful gardens welcoming commuters. What’s more! The premises are clean and tidy. More surprises are in store like an LED plasma aquarium decorating the wall of VIP rooms which would make one wonder whether it was indeed a railway station.
A group of railway personnel at the station have become role models for all employees. They not only spent their energy but also money to keep the station attractive to offer commuters a pleasant travelling experience.
“The scenario at the station was different earlier with broken tree stumps blocking the entrance and the uneven station premises making it difficult for travelers to step inside.
The employees took the initiative – cleared all the weeds and branches, levelled the ground and set up a beautiful garden at the entrance”, said Ernakulam Area Manager Dr Rajesh Chandran.
Thanks to the initiative led by Station Manager C. Balakrishnan, the Aluva railway station is now the first one in the division to boast of a decorative piece like an LED aquarium.
“We wanted to know the reaction of the Railways to such an initiative. The Railways not only welcomed the efforts but also honoured three of us (Health Inspector Arun Vijay and RPF Inspector Roy Mathai) with performance awards which were personally handed over by General Manager Rakesh Mishra,” said Balakrishnan.
All the same, he wants the Railways to act on two issues. “Since the station caters to a large number of commuters basically from the High Ranges, we want more personnel at the counter….at least five from the present three. Also, cement loading here should be shifted to Kalamassery as its causing inconvenience to commuters,” he says.
