KUMBAKONAM (KMU)

KUMBAKONAM : Kumbakonam Rly station is one of the good revenue earning station in this division. High potential for passenger earnings as Kumbakonam is important pilgrimage and business centre. The vacant space in and around the station could be utilised to construct additional retiring rooms and coaching terminal. Arrangements to be made with TNSTC Kumbakonam to operate town buses from Rly stations all through the day till late night. Well maintained station. waiting halls are well maintained. Escalators may be provided

Good morning,
On my recent travels around India by rail I rated Shoranur Junction in the Southern Region, Kerala State as the best organized and cleanest station. Apart from being clean and well maintained there was refrigerated drinking water available on the platform. Then, to my amazement, during the 10minute stop-over a team of workers came and cleaned the sleeper AND then WASHED the carriage windows - both inside and out. All the workers seemed to take pride in their jobs and the presentation of their station.
The whole southern region impressed me. Well maintained platforms are the norm and looked after flower gardens and shrubs were everywhere. Everything that needed painting was always showing fresh paint.
My congratulations
Neville MADDEN
Queensland
Australia

COIMBATORE JUNCTION :
1.Entrance always crowded . Ticket advance booking crowd and current ticket purchasing crowd spilling over to the main entrance . Have a separate entrance for ticket advance ticket booking crowd. Points -- 2
2.Platforms perenially stinking : Because allowing passengers touse compartment toilets in stations. When tains terminate , unauatherized lots get in and use toilets . So don't let the empty trains stay in platforms for long .Avoid usage of compartment toilets in the platforms. Points -- 2
3.Platform toilets should be increased to take the stink away. Points -- 2
4. Absolutely no controll ove the Pay and use toilets : The contractior charges Rs. 5/= for evn passing urine . In the absence of a notice informing the rates for various usages in the toilets the contractors / personnel in charge exploit the situation and fleez the passengers. This will wrong signals to the passengers about the honesty of the station personnel. This specific issue was raised eexactly a month ago ; hope the rates are put up on the pay and use toilets by now. Points -- 1.
5.The functioning system of Ritiring rooms and Dormitories is absolutely unprofessional and unfriendly . When the travel weary passenger goes for his room or dormitory there should be some one to attend immediately . So strict instructions should be given for the staff in charge to be present as soon as the trains arrive in the station . Platform 2 & 3 has dormitories and just outside the platforms the retiring Rooms.If bothe in the same place one person can be put in charge ; now in ccharge seems to be shunting from dormitory to retiring rooms. Short of staff or inefficiency we are not sure . Lat it be manned by people who are friendly and duty bound towards the travel weary passengers. After all it is part of hospitality . Point -- 1 .
6. No one checks if the coach display system works in the platforms; some coaches were missing from the display . Immagine the plight of anxios passengers ; there is no way to check from officials in platform 2&3 ;have to use the flight of 35 stairs up and down again. What about the baggage even that will have to be carried on staairs. This is particularly so in trains leaving in the night. Should have booths as in Salem Platforms 2 & 3 booth to attend to . Poits -- 1
In all Coimbatore junction needs a lot of attention as a major railway station in the Salem Division. IT NEEDS IMMEDIATE ATTENTION AND ON WAR FOOTING IF SOUTHERN RAILWAYS WANT TO COME UP TO THE EXPECTATIONS OF THE HON'BLE MINISTER .

Akkalkot road station the station is very convenient for swami sartha temple visit and good base point very quiet. but good retiring rooms needed and more trains like husain sagar chennai superfast shatabdi rajkot , karnataka express need to halt for lots of visitors to temple

ELPHINSTON ROAD RLY STN, on western railway, hosts 800 + trains daily, but
It has only one island platform with trains on each side
It has no escalator
It has no drinking water facility.
Beggars of Mumbai gather on this station to enjoy toilets.
IT IS THE ONLY STATION IN WORLD WITH 800+ TRAINS AND JUST ONE ISLAND PLATFORM ( besides Matunga Rd )