VISAKHAPATNAM: The double-decker train to Vijayawada and Tirupati from Vizag to clear the Krishna Pushkaram rush evoked a lukewarm response from passengers.
The passengers alleged that AC facility in some coaches had developed snags and the trains fail to keep to their schedules. It did not find many takers from Vizag itself with passengers opting for the regular trains.
According to sources, the double-decker train which came from Secunderbad two days ago had some technical problems while chugging into Vizag railway station. It needs at least three-four days to rectify the technical snag but as there is no time with the Pushkarams underway, the engineers couldn’t rectify. The Vizag-Vijayawada double-decker train also had some coaches with non-functioning AC on Sunday.
As per the National Train Enquiry System (NTES), the train departed from Vizag station at 12.15 pm. It was supposed to reach Vijayawada station at 5.50 pm but reached at 9.40 pm. The train has been introduced to clear rush of Pushkaram pilgrims but not many are choosing to travel by this train as the fare is higher than the regular trains.
“During special occasions like the Pushkarams, special trains are launched to avoid rush. Priority is given to regular trains so that they run on time. The special trains have to wait and make way for the regular ones,” said a senior official of the Waltair division.
“We along with our family friends travelled by the double-decker train for having new experience and a safe travel, but we had bitter experience as we boarded coaches with technical snags. As there was no proper check of tickets, even the passengers without ticket boarded the train,” said Srinivas, a retired teacher.
“Though it was a new one for the city, we felt travelling by a regular train with normal fare is better,” said M Sitaramaiah, a Pushkaram pilgrim travelling to Vijayawada.