I am a Senior Citizen who was traveling by Ganpati Special Train 01034 from Madgaon to CST Mumbai on 1 October 2015. This train was delayed by over nine hours. I am highlighting the actual conditions at Thivim Station, my boarding point, on that day which needs urgent redress:
1. There was a heavy downpour on 1st October 15 and the approach to Thivim Station was non-existent (Station approach being built). One had to alight a few hundred meters from the station in slush and muddy water.
2. The Station Authorities could not provide a reasonable reply regarding the delay in arrival or the whereabouts of Train Number 01034.
3. The boarding point for the AC coach passengers on Platform 1 did not have any lights or adequate sitting arrangement especially at night even though the train was delayed for a stretch of over nine hours.
4. The flooring on Platform 1 for AC Coach passengers is uneven and full of rain water accumulation and it made life miserable in the darkness.
5. The public address system was not functioning properly and one could not hear any of the announcements if one was seated away from the station building.
6. There should be emergency lighting arrangements which were sadly missing on 1st October 2015 after a massive lightning strike knocked out the existing transformer.
7. There was not the slightest effort on the part of the station staff to make life easier for passengers who had to stay put for 11 hours at a stretch without water or toilet facilities on the platform.
