It is common for senior officials to inaugurate new facilities. But on Friday, as a means to honour their services, three senior railway employees, who are to retire, were selected to launch new facilities – an escalator and lift - at the Katpadi Railway Station.
According to officials of the Southern Railway, as per the direction of the Railway Board, the three Group ‘D’ employees, who were nominated, brought the escalator and lift to public use. They were Thamizharasi gatekeeper (Operating Department), Dhanasekaran, senior technician (Electrical Department) and Venkatesan, senior technician (Engineering Department). B. Mathivanan, Station Manager, Katpadi Railway Station was present.
An official said that the escalator and lift were established at a cost of ₹60 lakh. The work for the two facilities were taken up and completed over the last six months, he said.
“The escalator and lift will enable elderly commuters, patients and those with disabilities to reach the platforms easily. The lift will be useful for people in wheelchairs,” he said.
The escalator that is available at the entrance to the station takes commuters to the foot over bridge connecting platforms, 2, 3, 4, and 5. Similarly the lift is available near platform 1 and will take commuters to the foot over bridge connecting 2, 3, 4 and 5, he added.
“Work on one more lift on platforms 2 and 3 is under progress and will be completed shortly,” he said.
He said that the three senior railway staff were going to retire soon and were nominated to inaugurate the facilities as a means to honour their services. “They were given the opportunity to unveil the facilities,” he added. Among others, Sekar, additional divisional engineer, Bharathidasan, electrical engineer and Rajendran, chief commercial inspector were present.