Heaps of Garbage & Filth welcomes the tourist in Holy City

By Pallavi Soni
AMRITSAR: It is commonly said first impression is the last impression. The first thing that catches the tourist eye is heaps of garbage, filth and unhygienic conditions that greet them as soon as they land holy city.

A visit to railway station, presents an ugly picture of neglect .Filth and heaps of garbage remain unattended for couple of days causing inconvenience to visitors. The piles of garbage and dirt can be spotted everywhere on the platforms. Foul smell emanating from garbage and dirt scatters all over the platforms.

Surprisingly, of the six platforms only platform No. 1 have the facility of toilets.
In the absence of basic facilities, passengers are left with no choice than to urinate in the open which further leads to unhygienic conditions. Also, with the few garbage dumps on platforms, visitors and passengers throw the trash on the platforms.Ironically, in the 2009 railway budget, the railway station was proposed to be developed into world class facility but the present picture of platforms speaks the volume of authorities sincere efforts.The concerned authorities had failed to provide even the basic facilities to visitors and passengers.
 Prem Charan, a tourist from Delhi said “heaps of garbage are lying everywhere besides prevailing unhygienic conditions are causing great inconvenience to people.Another visitor, Vijay Sharma from Hyderabad who has come to visit his in- laws said “I am shocked to see the passengers urinating in the open due to the lack of toilets. He said filth and garbage are spotted all around."This ugly picture of railway station is enough to speak about the city" added Vijay.

It is said railway station is the foremost point where tourist and visitors land and it leads them into the city. Thereby, efforts should be made to ensure the sanitation facilities on the platforms and basic facilities should be provided to the passengers and visitors.

"The wholehearted approach of railway authorities is needed to look after the prevailing problem at the railway station, besides should come up with effective measures to ensure the cleanliness on the platforms” opined Vineet, a  social worker.