KOZHIKODE: The new railway rest house, set up by the Railway Electrification Department, opposite to the railway institute, is ready for inauguration. As the construction is over, the building will soon be opened to the higher officials who come here for inspection purposes. The building, which facilitates comfortable accommodation for the officials with four air-conditioned rooms, a fountain and a lawn outside, was constructed by spending around `2 crore from the electrification fund. The construction was initiated in the wake of the increasing flow of officials to the region to inspect the ongoing electrification process in various parts of Malabar. Substantiating the need for such a rest house at the Kozhikode railway station, Johnson, deputy chief electrical engineer, Kozhikode, says the officials are often put to hardship when they come the region.
“The ongoing electrification process needs strict evaluation and inspection as it has to be completed in a time-bound manner and more officials should be here to ensure that the work is smoothly carried out. The present retiring room is inadequate to meet the accommodation requirements of the officials,” he says.
On why the building is inevitable, an official says, the Railways has to pay a huge amount if the officials seek accommodation outside.
By setting up such a building, the Railways can avoid unwanted expenses and the officials can discharge their duties well.
Meanwhile, the construction of the building for the higher officials has drawn harsh criticism from the railway employees.
Alleging that the Railways has spent a huge amount on setting up such a luxury building, the representatives of various railway employees' unions say the authorities are turning a blind eye to the sufferings of the third class and second class employees who are struggling without proper accommodation facilities.
They add that their demands to maintain the railway quarters is still on paper. They further point out that the authorities are reluctant to pay attention to the railway institute and the railway clinic, though they are in need of a facelift.