Now, Marathi indicators at Mumbai stations

Agencies

Mumbai, 22 January 2011: What is it that the city’s railway stations are missing? On the list of things that pops up in your mind, do platform indicators in Marathi figure at all? Well, whether they do or not, you can leave it to the Shiv Sena to rectify the omission. The champion of the Marathi cause duly brought the neglect to the notice of Central Railway authorities in their trademark style.

 

Earlier this week, Sena leader Anil Desai met the railway’s General Manager, Kul Bhushan, and told him that the railways should display train information on the digital indicators, hanging overhead at stations, in Marathi as well. He added that if the CR doesn’t comply, the saffron party would deal with it their way.

 

Expectedly, the authorities yielded to the demands of the party. According to sources in the railway, approval for putting up the Marathi indicators at all major railway stations between CST and Kalyan has been granted. The authorities have allowed for the indicators to be put up at 19 stations in the first phase. The second will be sanctioned after getting feedback from passengers.

 

 

Tenders for the same have already been processed and the language indicators should be there for your guidance in a month’s time. They would cost around Rs 94 lakh. Currently, the display boards assert train information in English and Hindi. Vineet Kumar, deputy general manager, CR, said, "The work is in progress for putting the indicators in Marathi. Initially we will install them on the major stations between CST and Kalyan. The tender has already been floated."

 

However, the new display will not seem all that different from the ones in Hindi, as the two languages share the same script, Devanagri. Desai said, "The railways do not display station names in Marathi. As it is the state language, they need to do it. They have agreed to do it from this point onwards."

 

About the similarity in the script, he said, "The script is the same but it is evident that the words are not Marathi. But now every station’s name would be in Marathi." Pointing out a plus for the new indicators, he added, "People from outside the state will not find it difficult to read the Marathi signs as the script is the same as Hindis."

 

Rs 94 lakh: The cost to make the indicators display information in Marathi.