It’s been a pleasant change for commuters at Kalyan railway station — instead of being forced to look at filthy paan-stained pillars as they queue up to buy tickets, they have been greeted with cheerfully bright, colourful pillars, courtesy school students in the area.
A week ago, students painted the pillars at the ticket counter on the west side of the station, after local railway officials approached the Central Railway’s school and junior college in Kalyan with the suggestion.
“A group of 10 to 12 students from the Central Railway’s secondary school and junior college painted the pillars, which had become dirty because of people spitting paan and gutkha,” said PK Das, station manager, Kalyan station. “The students worked after school hours and completed the paintings within a week, under the guidance of their art teacher.”
Commuters are glad that the station does not look so dreary anymore. “The ticket counter looks so pleasant now; I thank the youngsters for their beautiful artwork,” said Pranali Jadhav, a regular commuter and college student from Khadak Pada, Kalyan. “Now, I hope commuters respect their art and stop spitting inside the station.”
