VASCO
With the advanced reservation ticket counter closed for the last few days, there has been a rush of people at the additional ticket booking counter of the Vasco Railway station.
Social distancing rules have been ignored, as people are in a hurry to get their tickets reserved or to check the status of their booked tickets.
While the railways' staff are unhappy over the rush of people amid rising Covid cases, residents in Vasco have also requested the railways to reopen the reservation ticket counter which is a few blocks away from the railway station.
According to sources in the railway station, the advanced reservation counter has been closed down for the last 15 days.
"It is true there is a rush of the people at the ticket counter inside the Vasco railway station but we can't help it because many people arrive here to reserve their tickets after the main reservation office has been shut down.”
“Three staff of the reservation counter at Vasco Railway station had tested positive for Covid and as a result, the office was closed down. As per protocol, after the staff was tested positive, we have to close the reservation counter for two days to get the office sanitised and send the positive staff for home quarantine, which has been done.”
The source admitted that other staff could have been placed at the reservation counter and the office could have reopened in two days.
"However, the reservation counter which was closed for two days continues to remain shut for the last 15 days. Arrangements were made on a temporary basis in a single counter near the regular ticket booking counter and now, there is a mad rush at this counter where people are in close proximity to each other. This has raised concerns among people as well as railways staff at the ticket booking counter,” said the source.
“Actually, the reservation counter has a very big hall and the area also is very huge where the social distancing of people can be maintained. On the other hand, the space at the ticket booking counter is less and nothing can be done even if there is a mad rush," said the source.
When contacted, Vasco Station Railway Manager Ramdas Gudemane admitted that the reservation counter had been closed down after some staff tested positive.
"Our staff at the reservation counter tested positive and we started a new counter at the ticket booking counter for reservation. We are managing both works from the ticket counter as we are facing staff issues. The staff who tested positive are under quarantine and hence, the reservation counter is closed as of now," said Gudemane.
