Prompt solutions for commuter woes during Minister’s 5 a.m. visit

COLOMBO: Transport Minister Dullas Alahapperuma paid a surprise visit to the Colombo Fort main Railway station around 5.00 a.m. yesterday.

The Minister who was without any security personnel escorting him, visited the station’s every nook and corner and made on the spot arrangements to improve facilities at this pivotal railway station, a Transport Ministry release said.

The Minister who spent nearly two hours at the station noted that in certain sections, officers due to report for work at 5.00 a.m., had not arrived even by 6.30 a.m.

One employee who came at 6.30 a.m. was caught red handed while trying to sign his time of arrival as 5.00 a.m. The Minister was surprised to see the rest room reserved for clergy transformed into a store room with goods stacked in it.

At the women’s rest room, one commuter awaiting a train, complained that the room is not properly covered to ensure their privacy. He instructed higher officials to complete work on the minor staff rest hall in which construction work had stalled for the last eight months and took them to task for not attending to the welfare of minor workers properly.

The Minister who found swarms of flies and several canine creatures at the kitchen of the privately managed canteen, instructed officials to take urgent action to clean the place and ensure that food is prepared hygienically.

Finding a large number of commuters queuing up at the counter to reserve observation cars in trains, the Minister took action to clear up the delays in issuing tickets. Alahapperuma boarded the Yal Devi, Podimenike and Matara bound trains parked on the platforms and spoke to some passengers and inquired about their transport problems.

Most railway employees and commuters said they were happy to see the Minister visiting the station to look into their problems.