The cost of utilizing the waiting room by passengers in Ahmedabad Railway Station has increased to ₹20 per hour via a new decision that was enacted to control the number of people and to better the conditions of the passenger facilities. The reason behind the introduction of the measure by the railway authorities is to make sure that the facility is better maintained, kept clean, and used in a controlled manner, which has been known to experience high footfall since the station is among the busiest transport systems in Gujarat.
Officials have noted that the waiting room has had its share of problems that include overcrowding, prolonged occupancy by the passengers and issues with keeping the place clean. As thousands of travellers are going through Ahmedabad Junction every day, the waiting room is often crowded and short-duration travellers cannot easily find a space. The introduction of a fee that is nominal fee is likely to deter unnecessary occupancy and ensure that the room is occupied by passengers who actually require the facility to spend short periods waiting.
The 20 hours per charge is the charge levied on general access to the waiting room, and there may be extra fees charged on long hours or premium seating, where offered. The officials in charge of the railway have explained that the price is meant to be affordable and also enable better control of the facility. Among the items to be improved under the new system are regular cleaning, improved seat arrangements, and increased observation of the safety and comfort of the passengers.
Reactions by the passengers to the decision have been mixed. Some are happy with the fee, citing that it will ease congestion and make the place cleaner, but some feel that fundamental facilities at the railway stations should be made free. In this regard, particularly the daily commuters have expressed the issue of affordability of the service to the low-income passengers who rely on public transport means to commute daily. Nevertheless, authorities argue that the fee is one of the lowest in the country and that it will go a long way in upholding better standards.
In recent years, the Indian Railways has been keen on modernizing the stations and improving passenger amenities. Introduction of paid waiting rooms, online ticketing, better platforms and enhanced sanitation efforts is a larger move to make sure that millions of commuters will have an easier time travelling. As it is one of the major junctions linking major cities in India, Ahmedabad Junction will experience significant gains after this step.
During implementation, the railway authorities will analyze the feedback and usage trend of the passengers and adjust the implementation should the need arise. The new system is a major move towards effective management of the station infrastructure, coupled with a balance between passenger comfort and operational issues.
