Ministry goes all out to beautify railway stations

by Ananda Kannangara

The beautification of all 330 railway stations countrywide and bring it on par with the Government’s City and Village Beautification Program will be expedited by the Transport Ministry on a directive by Transport Minister Kumara Welgama.

A recent Railway Department survey has revealed that nearly 30 percent of the railway stations have already been given a facelift and that the remaining 70 percent railway stations are not properly maintained.

Transport Minister Kumara Welgama told the Sunday Observer that it is the responsibility of station masters and senior Departmental officials to beautify railway stations by clearing and growing flower and vegetable plants to attract passengers to travel by trains daily.

It is reported that over 700,000 office workers and others travel in about 300 powersets and other trains daily, but some stations had failed to provide adequate sanitary facilities, especially drinking water for passengers.

Minister Welgama also focused attention on renovating the walls and roofs of some railway stations to give them a better look.

The Minister thanked the media and others for lodging complaints about the shortcomings at railway stations and said that prompt action would be taken to solve them.

Railway Commercial Superintendent, G.W.S. Sisira Kumara said steps have also been taken to select well-maintained and the best railway stations in the country and award cash prizes to station masters and other employees of the railway stations in this regard.