Even 79 Years After Independence, Tilhar Railway Station’s Facilities Continue to Harass Passengers.
Local Public Representatives Fail to Provide a Dedicated Foot Overbridge for Passengers.
Tilhar/Shahjahanpur: Even after violating several provisions of the Railway Act, passengers finally manage to reach the ticket counter at Tilhar Railway Station. This is not a recent problem but a long-standing practice that has continued for nearly a century, despite numerous changes over the years.
In the 1950s, the population of Tilhar town may have had relatively little dependence on railway services. However, with the steady growth of the population, railway services have now become a lifeline for residents of Tilhar and the surrounding areas. Yet, even today, passengers face difficulties reaching the railway station’s ticket window. They are forced to cover long distances or risk their lives by crossing the railway tracks while returning from their journeys.
Under Section 147 of the Indian Railways Act, 1989, unauthorised entry into railway premises or trespassing on railway property is punishable. Travelling without a ticket is also an offence. This raises a serious question: should residents of Tilhar undertake a long walk to reach the ticket window to purchase a ticket, or risk violating Section 147 of the Railway Act by unlawfully crossing from Platform No. 3 to Platform No. 2?
Local public representatives have witnessed this problem openly, yet no one has shown any serious interest in resolving it over the past five decades.
What Do Local Residents Say?
According to local residents, whenever the Railways enforce strict rules, passengers heading towards the ticket window to purchase tickets are often seen facing the displeasure of railway staff on duty within the station premises.
The situation becomes particularly difficult for elderly passengers who are unable to cover the long distance from railway Gate No. 334B to the ticket window. The gate, which could provide access to the station, reportedly remains closed on most occasions, further increasing the difficulties faced by passengers.
Local residents travelling to Bareilly and Shahjahanpur on journeys costing between ₹50 and ₹100 are often compelled to pay fines of up to ₹1,000. While local public representatives make numerous promises during election campaigns, they appear to show little concern after winning elections when it comes to resolving this basic public inconvenience and preventing the violation of citizens’ fundamental rights.
Despite the passage of 79 years since Independence, the absence of a dedicated foot overbridge and adequate passenger access facilities at Tilhar Railway Station continues to raise serious questions about railway administration and the accountability of local public representatives.
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