BHOPAL: Footfall at Rani Kamalapati station has exponentially increased in the last few weeks. It is not because of the passengers but the people going there to eat at night in newly opened eateries. This has compromised the security of the station as no one is there to check such large masses and people have started using the premises for car-o-bar, said soures.Last week police caught 25 people there, found drinking in their cars.
Rani Kamalapati station has become a happening place in the state capital. But this has started troubling the passengers also. Several times they are not able to get the parking space as foodies occupy that space.
“I wanted to park my vehicle in the parking allotted for the passengers before catching the Bhopal Express around 10.40 pm. However, I had to return my vehicle as there was no space available for passengers. In the entire parking lot, only people who had come for dining had occupied the space,” said Shivam Dwivedi, a passenger.
Another passenger said that he had to encounter people drinking openly in the parking lot. “There is an urgent need to stop this. Why are authorities allowing such a large number on station premises? The railway station is primarily for passengers,” said another passenger, Aarti Sharma.
Passengers also complained that the traffic congestion continues in front of the railway station. “It is ironic that before entering the world-class station I have to tear through huge traffic in front of the gate, particularly during the arrival of the Shatabdi Express,” said a passenger, Vineet Vaid.
When contacted, the project manager, Bansal Pathways, Abu Asif said that it has been decided that shops will not be allowed to run after 12 pm.
“There were complaints of people misusing the parking as shops were opening full night. We have decided to close shops at 12 pm,” said Asif.
About the people drinking liquor in the cars parking, Asif said, “That is the law-and-order thing for which we do not have any powers.”
