On dt. 14 Nov. 2015 I have tried to take a ride of Neral Maheran NG train. The facts observe:-
1) Local trains totally jam for Neral & Karjat. After a gap of 40-50 min. there is a one local train for Neral i.e Karjat or Khopoli. Good i.e. 12 coach train.
2) Huge rush to get a tickets.
3) 4 passenger coach &...
more... one goods coach to the train. (10.40 am train) 2 hrs. for one sin-gal trip.
4) Regularly only 3 trains running i.e. 6.40 am, 9.10 am & 10.40 am
5) Weakened i.e. SAT & SUN additional service @ 12.10 pm (On 14 th Nov. they have canceled this service due to engine maintenance work.
6) Only app. 200 tickers are issued. ticket charges GN Rs. 60 & FC Rs. 300 (total 200 passengers including children's with half ticket.)
7) No reservation on IRCT site or in advance tickets system. Tickets issue only 30 min. before train dep.
8) One passenger gets only 4 tickers.
9) On ticket fare board mentioned reservation tickers as GN Rs. 75 but no reserved ticket issued.
10) No good canteen service on Neral station.
11) No return ticket issued at Neral or Matheran.
12) After 12.10 trains there is 5.00 pm last train from Neral to Matheran. There is a lot of passengers coming after 1.00 pm also. nut there is no train service.
13) No standing passengers are allowed in this NG train.(Strictly)
14) Train tickets are not available by any other railway staff or outside agent etc. Ticket distributor is very straightforward going through rules only no side business.
15) Seen the NG car shed very near to NG station. There is app 3-4 engines & two trains set with 4-5 passenger coach standing.
16) On Neral station 2 passenger & 2 goods coach standing.
17) Ticket distribution is still by old manual system. No computerized ticket issued. It is time consuming. On ticket the ticket he will put a rubber stamp of date & by manually he will mentioned a seat Numbers.
18) Wash room facility is not good. Washrooms are in poor condition & very ugly. That is also on railway station nr. NR line. out side this railway station there is no facility of wash room.
19) Food quality at Neral on station & out side station is very poor. Better not to eat outside & used packed food pkt.
20) Passengers came out from Que & after dep. of 10.40 train ,when CR announce that 12.10 train has been cancelled & last train @ 5.00 pm tickets will issue @ 4.30 pm. that time passengers run for taxi.
21) Many taxi drivers agents know this that there is shortage of tickets so they came to passengers for their taxi service, still passengers don't want to go with them.
22) Private Taxi stand very near towards East of stn. towards Kalyan side. Taxi offering 70 /- per passenger even to children & 5-7 passengers in one taxi. No security. This taxi up to Aman Ladge only.
23) No road for taxi stand.
24) Huge Que to taxi also. Difficult to children & Sr. citizens. due to bad road condition.
25) No State transport bus running. Due to lack of passengers response Maharashtra state transport stop this services.
26) Bus station condition is very very very poor say very bad. only small stones & dust.
If really Maharashtra state & IR want to develop Maheran hill Station they have to stop this Private Taxies to reduce pollution & increase the train facility.
Friends, pl. comment........
