Around 4,000 railway pensioners and family pensioners were issued Pension Payment Orders (PPOs) on the first day of the two-day PPOs Mela, organised at Srinivasa Kalyana Mandapam, near the Railway Station, on Thursday.
Thousands of pensioners and family pensioners from far flung areas of Waltair Division apart from those in the city thronged the venue right from the morning to receive their PPO copies. This resulted in traffic jam on the Railway New Colony β Railway Station Main Road and chaos at the venue of the mela.
Chaos at venue
Senior citizens, many of whom were into their eighties, had a tough time in view of the humid weather and hot sun. The authorities seemed to be unprepared for such a rush but made arrangements quickly and ensure supply of water sachets to those in the queue.
Divisional Railway Manager Mukul Saran Mathur, Senior Divisional Commercial Manager G. Suneel Kumar, Assistant Commercial Manager P.N. Vijay Kumar and other officials monitored the arrangements.
There are 20,000 pensioners, including family pensioners, who had retired between 1972 and 1985, in Waltair Division. Already 3,500 PPO s have been dispatched by post.
Arrangements
Of the 5,000 pensioners, who attended the mela, 4,000 were issued PPOs on Thursday. The DRM said another 4,000 PPOs would be issued at the mela on Friday.
βIn view of the unprecedented rush on Thursday, arrangements have been made to issue tokens with colour coding to prevent scramble at the counters. The counters would be increased to 10 and preference will be given to those who come from far-off places,β he said.
Mr. Mathur, however, appealed to pensioners not to panic as the pensions would be paid through bank accounts, irrespective of whether they possess the 7th Pay Commission revised PPO or not. The PPO is issued for reference and record purpose only. Those who do not get the PPOs on Friday can also collect the same from the respective offices and branches from where they had retired, he added.