The Andhra Pradesh High Court closed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed highlighting the fact that on account of shifting of the railway booking counter from the Municipal Complex at Amalapuram situate within the municipal limits of Amalapuram, Dr.B.R.Ambedkar Konaseema District, to a different location, the public at large would be highly inconvenienced.
It is stated that the railway booking counter which is situated within the premises of the municipal complex at Amalapuram was functioning throughout the week, whereas the new location, it would only work on week days and not on holidays.
It is stated that in the absence of a railway station at Amalapuram, this extension counter with facilities available throughout the week was a great convenience and any shifting of such premises would be undesirable.
It was in that background that by virtue of interim order dated 09.08.2023 the High Court had directed the respondents specially respondent No.6/The Municipality of Amalapuram to state as to whether there was any proposal to provide its premises to the Railways free of cost without payment of any rent with a view to ensure the continuation of the reservation counter at the said place as it was continuing before the decision dated 01.06.2023 whereby shifting was ordered. Pursuant to the order so passed by us on 09.08.2023, it appears that the decision was taken by the municipal council in its resolution No.221 on 28.08.2023 whereby it was resolved to allot shop Nos.3 & 4 in Sri Potti Sriramulu Shopping Complex to Railways Department free of cost for running their railway reservation counter till they complete the construction of the railway station.
As per the affidavit filed by the Commissioner, Amalapuram Municipality, a letter has been addressed to the Collector and District Magistrate, Amalapuram and the Commissioner and Director of Municipal Administration, Guntur, requesting for special permission from the Government for allotting shops in accordance with the decisions taken by the municipal council.
From the affidavit filed by the Railways, the Court noted that the place where the railway booking counter has been shifted is hardly 200 yards away from the earlier place of its operation within the shopping complex.
The Division Bench of Chief Justice Dhiraj Singh Thakur and Justice R. Raghunandan Rao is of the view that the Railways are still providing the facility to the passengers to book tickets from the extension counter. However, in case the Government approves the recommendations made by the municipal council, appropriate directions will follow.