- (1.) The petitioner, Chaibasa Chamber of Commerce & Industries has filed this Public Interest Litigation seeking for direction upon the Railway authorities to provide facilities to the people at Chaibasa, Railway Station and also; to extend Steel Express to Barbil through railway station and; to provide an Express Train in the night hours daily on Barbil (Orissa)- Chaibasa (Jharkhand)-Howrah (West Bengal) route; to provide MEMU train or Rail Bus service between Barbil-Chaibasa-Tata; to restart passenger Trains for Barbil-Chaibasa-Asansoi and Gua-Chaibasa-Kharagpur route and also; to extend important trains from Chakradharpur to Chaibasa-Tatanagar and also seeking for other directions. On notice, Railways has appeared. Vide order dated 4.2.2013, this Court has passed interim order directing the respondents to place on record the sufficient number of photographs of the Railway Station, Chaibasa alongwith the photographs of Waiting Rooms, Retiring Rooms, Platforms: Ticket Counter Blocks as well as the parking space provided outside the Railway Station. The Railway is also directed to give the total number of Urinals, Toilets etc. provided at the platforms and the facility room.
(2.) In pursuance of the order dated 4.2.2013, the Railway has filed a supplementary counter affidavit on 13.3.2013 stating that Chaibasa Railway Station is a 'D' categorized Station as per the Railway Board's policy guidelines and all 'D' categorized Station facilities have been provided to the Chaibasa Railway Station. In the supplementary counter affidavit, the Railway has referred to various amenities like High Level Platform, Low Level Platform, upgradation of both upper class (separately for ladies and gents), waiting rooms and second class waiting halls with better seating arrangements. It is also stated that the provision of Foot Over Bridge with pathway and other facilities have been provided. It is further stated that cleaning activities is outsourced to keep the station neat and clean.
(3.) A supplementary counter affidavit dated 19.9.2013 has been filed on behalf of respondent-Railways giving details of passenger earnings for the last four years from Gua, Talaburu, Kendposi, Barajamda, Barbil, Noamundi, Dangoaposi, Maluka, Jhinkpani and Pandrasali Stations. It is stated that in spite of meager passenger earnings from all other stations except Barbil, minimum essential amenities has been provided by the Railways. It is also stated that the track between Rajkharswan up to Jaroli has been fully developed and totally electrified. It is further stated that the Railway administration sustains heavy pecuniary loss from the various passenger trains and the earning comes from the goods train only. However, the Railway administration has been serving the millions of passengers with utmost care and it provides adequate facility as prescribed by the Railway Board.;