The Times of India             26.06.2013

No eatery, paid rides near toy train station

VADODARA: The Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) will for now not allow any restaurants or paid rides at Kamatibaug near the platform of the toy train. The decision was taken after a meeting of VMC officials with the operators of the train and regular users of the garden.

The regular users and members of Save Kamatibaug movement had taken up the issue of a building coming up near the platform and yard of the new toy train. They had stated that this structure would be used for an eatery or restaurant and similar facilities. The issue of paid rides near the train was also discussed.

Following a series of meetings, the civic body decided that no development beyond ticketing and facilities for the users of the train will be conducted immediately. It has also been decided that rides near this station will be free rides.

The civic body also plans to run the train on limited timings for the first one month and only then extend its timings. "We want to first see how people adapt to it and then extend timings accordingly. We will also have to consider busy days when there is heavy rush at the garden and work out its schedules. For now it will run from 4pm to 11pm when it starts operations," said VMC commissioner Manish Bhardwaj.

Bhardwaj said the issues of the safety of the train, particularly at spots where it crossed walking tracks, is being looked into. "There are four such spots in the garden. We have decided to put security personnel here to ensure safety of people," he said.