| Railway tracks between Srinagar-Banihal assessed, services to be resumed shortly | | | Early Times Report
Srinagar, Nov 29: Railway officials today assessed the tracks between Srinagar in Kashmir valley and Banihal in Jammu region, on which services would likely start in the first week of December after remaining suspended since July 9.
Meanwhile, the rail service between Srinagar and Badgam in the central Kashmir resumed on November 17, though the number of passengers is very less.
A railway official today that senior railway officers assessed the railway track from Srinagar to Banihal.
Senior railway officials in a special railway cart, which is being used for reaching the damaged accident sites or undertaking repair during emergencies, today left Srinagar for Banihal via Pulwama, Anantnag, Qazigund stations.
He said the officers on their return will discuss and decide the rail run date.
The railway track had been damaged at several places by the mobs during the unrest and a number of railway stations were also damaged in the violence. The rail service between Baramulla in north Kashmir and Banihal in Jammu region via Srinagar, Badgam, Anantnag and Qazigund in south Kashmir was suspended following massive protest across the valley after the death of Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) commander Burhan Wani and two other militants on July 8 in an encounter in Anantnag.
Railways authorities had started rail run between Srinagar and Budgam on November 17 though the number of passengers are very less.
However, he said once the rail run is fully functional between Banihal and Baramulla, the number of passengers will increase. "Before the suspension of the service, the trains remained over crowded throughout the day," he added.
Due to suspension of the rail service the railway authorities suffered crores of rupees loss during the past four months. Besides railway property had also been damaged.
"We have been spending nearly Rs 80 crore annually on operations and maintenance of rail operations in Kashmir and in return earn meager income," he added. |
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