Showers expose faulty drainage system at Cantt station

VARANASI: Just nine days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi took stock of the remodeling and renovation work of Cantonment railway station being done at a cost of over Rs 100 crores, a short spell of heavy rains on Sunday night exposed the improper drainage at the model platform-1 here.
The false ceiling at the platform was damaged at many places after the rain and water started pouring down from the roof on the platform. Passengers clicked photos and made videos of the water pouring in from the roof of the platform which went viral on social media.

ADRM (Northern Railway) Varanasi Ravi Chaturvedi said that a four-member team has been formed to probe into the matter.

Heavy rains lashed the city for around half-an-hour on Sunday night following whcih the false ceiling of platform-1, which was developed as a model platform, was damaged at many places. The rain water also started leaking from the damaged tin-shade.

On being contacted, the ADRM on Monday said, "The over Rs 100 crore project of remodeling of the Cantt railway station, to equip it with world class facilities, is being executed by different agencies. The work of model platform is being executed by RITES. The roof had been renovated before completing the work of false ceiling. We suspect that water leakage was caused due to some snag in drainage system at the platform-1."

Chaturvedi said that a team of four officials including of railway, RITES and other agencies have been formed to study the technical problems. The team will examine all the completed as well as the on-going work to ensure that there is no technical snags. Necessary action will be taken after the report of the team arrives, he said. The railway officials had engaged teams for temporary repair of the ceiling.

Apart from the remodeling of the railway station other projects for the upgradation of circulating area and yard of the station is also in progress.

Despite completion of construction work and flooring at many areas waterlogging was evident at different points in circulating area.

During his two-day visit to Varanasi, the PM had visited Cantt railway station on July 14 night to take stock of progress in the work continuing there. Modi had returned after viewing the dynamic lighting arrangements at the main building in night hours.