Cancelling Panadura last train hassles Commuters
Cancellation of the last train to Panadura has resulted in hardships to hundreds of commuters from several areas including Bandaragama, and Horana.
The train which was scheduled to leave Maradana at 8.35 pm is not in operation at present and every day the time of the train from Slave Island to Koralawella is marked ‘cancelled’ in the displaying time tables.
Many of the passengers who travelled by this train were minor employees in the private sector and the workers of Janitorial Services who cannot afford to travel by buses. These season ticket holders are now compelled to wait till 9.30 pm for the next train to Aluthgama. They said when they reach Panadura, the last buses to Bandaragama and Horana are already gone.
A Janitor attached to a supermarket in Bambalapitiya, Siriyawathie Perera from Bandaragama said “I work under a Janitorial Service and my daily wage is Rs.150. Many others like me buy a season ticket and travel by train. My poor salary does not permit me to travel by busses daily. However, the Railway Department mercilessly cancelled our usual train.
We are compelled to take the Aluthgama train at 9.46pm that reaches Panadura at 10. 30 pm, but by then the last buses to Horana and Bandaragama have left. It is a journey of more than seven miles to Bandaragama and 15 miles to Horana. At present my brother takes me on his bicycle from Panadura to Bandaragama. I cannot expect him to do it everyday and the only alternative is to stay at home.”
A salesman of a shop in Bambalapitiya, Jeevan Kottachachci from Anguruwathota said “ I earn a pittance to support my family of two sisters. The railway season ticket is the only relief we have. Now a big slice of the monthly salary is spent on bus fares. The Railway Department expects us to travel by the 9.46 pm train that reaches Panadura at about 10.30 pm when the buses to other areas are gone. We request the Railway Department to operate our usual train or at least to change the time of the 7.45 pm train to Aluthgama by half an hour.”
By Kusal Chamath
Source: Daily Mirror
Tags: bus fares, commuters, hardships, last train, panadura, season ticket, time tables, train cancellation
