No free pick-up facility at Panchkula railway station; passengers forced to walk 400 metres
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Chandigarh: Passengers accessing the Panchkula side of the Chandigarh railway station are facing inconvenience due to the lack of a 10-minute free pick-up and drop-off facility — a basic provision available on the Chandigarh side.
As a result, commuters, many accompanied by children and carrying luggage, are forced to walk nearly 400 metres to reach the station building.
Despite the ongoing development of the Panchkula side into a world-class facility, the lack of proper access arrangements has triggered complaints from passengers. Currently, a private parking contractor charges Rs 20 for a minimum two-hour stay, with no provision for short-duration access.
The parking fee escalates to Rs 40 for four hours.
Adding to the woes, e-rickshaws and three-wheelers are not permitted beyond the boom barrier near the entrance. Operators allege that the parking contractor demands Rs 20 from them to enter, discouraging them from ferrying passengers up to the station.
"We have no orders to allow free entry even for a minute," said a parking attendant when asked about the absence of a short-duration access facility.
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"We charge Rs 20 as per the railways' approval for parking," he added.
Passengers, meanwhile, are forced to disembark far from the station gate. "We were dropped on the main road and had to drag our bags nearly 400 metres to the station," said Munna Ram, who was travelling with his family. "This is very difficult, especially for elderly passengers and those with children," he rued.
Ajay Kumar, another commuter, said, "Earlier, we used to approach the station from the Chandigarh side, but now that the Panchkula side has opened, it saves time.
Still, there must be a 10-minute free window for pick-up and drop-off like on the Chandigarh side."
Railway officials said that the area is still under renovation. "Once the development is complete, a free pick-up and drop-off facility will be introduced. Boom barriers have already been installed and will be made functional soon," an official said.
Until then, passengers are left to navigate both the physical and financial burden of accessing a station that promises world-class infrastructure but lacks basic last-mile convenience.
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