It is indeed a proud moment for the management and staff of the Vasco railway station as the railway station has been awarded ‘Best Maintained’ major railway station at Hubballi division of South Western Railway for the year 2017-18. Vasco railway was selected twice earlier for the same award including ‘Best Maintained’ in the whole of South Western Railway in the past. It may be recalled that this station in the Port Town was earlier listed as third cleanest railway station in India in ‘A’ category after the Indian Railways had reportedly conducted a preliminary survey of around 8,000 stations across the country under the ‘Swachh Rail-Swachh Bharat Mission’. It is indeed a satisfying experience for the railway travelers when they spend time on the platform waiting for their respective trains or alight from the train at the Vasco railway station.
However the same cannot be said when they step into Vasco city. A lot needs to be done as far as beautifying Vasco city is concerned. There is not much greenery in the Port Town. The summer sun is beating hard making the heat unbearable in the absence of trees. The concrete tree-guards are in dilapidated condition along the Swatantra Path. Many of the concrete slabs covering the gutters are broken.
If only the civic body in the Port Town were to follow the example of the Vasco railway station management and staff matters relating to cleanliness and maintenance, it could match up with Vasco station in these aspects.
ADELMO FERNANDES, Vasco
