Mysuru railway station: Lack of ATM kiosks, pricey food trouble train passengers

MYSURU: It’s double whammy for train passengers at Mysuru railway station. The lack of adequate number of ATMs at the station and the high cost of snacks at the hotel there are inconveniencing the passengers.
Though five ATM kiosks were working in the station premises, only the one run by SBI is functional for the last six months. The kiosks are said to have gone defunct after the development works started in the station in a brisk pace.This is inconveniencing passengers, especillay those alighting from Shatabdhi Express.
The average footfall at the station stands at 65,000, and most of them avoid carrying cash during travel fearing pickpockets. Such passengers feel disappointed at not finding kiosks in the station premises. The long queue before the only working kiosk is adding to their woes.
When asked about this, Ajay Kumar Singh, general manager of South Western Railway (SWR), said there has been no response from bidders for the two tenders they have invited. Syndicate Bank kiosk will also be installed, he added.
R Harish, a techie and a frequent train traveller, said commuters are being inconvenienced with only one kiosk. “Hope the railway authorities, who give importance to basic facilities for passengers, also install more number of kiosks and help the passengers,” he added.
Snacks are out of reach
If you are hungry when in the station, make sure to have enough money to buy some at the hotel located on Platform No. 1. According to its rate card, one plate of idlis costs Rs 46. Similarly, you need to shell out Rs 26 for a cup of coffee, Rs 67 for a plate of lemon/ curd rice, Rs 46 for idli-sambar, Rs 51 or plain dosa, Rs 68 for masala dosa, and Rs 68 for lassi.
Chickhaida and Prema, an elderly couple from Benglauru, had the shock of their lives on seeing the rate card on Monday. The couple had just returned from Nanjundeshwara Temple in Nanjangud. The couple from a middle-class family, despite being “hangry” (hungry and at the same time angry at the rates), had idlis before boarding the Bengaluru-bound train. “The idlies are not tasty,” they said.
Chickhaida said not all those travelling in trains can afford the snacks at the hotel. “I request the railway authorities to immediately provide quality food at affordable price to passengers,” he added.
Speaking on the issue, Shiva Kumar, regional manager of Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) which runs the hotel, said it will be closed before the second week of October. “A new contractor will run the hotel from November. We will make sure the price of snacks are affordable to the common people,” the officer said.