f you happened to visit the City Railway Station lately, you must have noticed a sea change. The place has received a makeover you didn’t expect.

For one thing, there is an ATM. People can purchase tickets or book seats at the machines without having to go to teller windows. Large LCD screens guide you about the platforms as well as the timetable. Escalators have been installed, reportedly at a cost of Rs 60 million. This is a first for a railway station in Pakistan, and it is meant to help the elderly and disabled move easily between platforms.

Another addition is a paid waiting area run by a private contractor. A passenger told TNS that he had to pay Rs 300 to avail the facility for three hours. But it was worth it, he added, as it covered refreshments. Moreover, there’s free WiFi, phone charging points, and a business centre with computers........

© The News on Sunday