10 days on, Hisar-Bathinda service not on full steam

Deepender Deswal

Tribune News Service

Hisar, September 5

Violence and arson after the Dera Sacha Sauda chief’s conviction has caused losses to the tune of Rs 12 crore to the North Western Railway as train services remained partially suspended on the Hisar-Sirsa-Bathinda section of the Bikaner division for last ten days.

The train services cancelled on the section in the wake of the dera violence has not been fully restored yet. The Railways said they have not got the security clearance from the state government to resume the services. Thousands of passengers are having a tough time as they have to take alternative conveyance to reach their destination.

Sources said since the curfew was still in place in certain villages of Sirsa district, the security agencies have not given the green signal to resume all services on this particular section.

Senior Divisional Commercial Manager CR Kumawat, Bikaner, confirmed that the train services have not been resumed fully on the Hisar-Bathinda section. “The train is terminated at the Hisar junction and services would resume for Sirsa, Bathinda only after security clearance. It is still not clear when the services would be restored on this section,” he said, adding that they have suffered loss to the tune of Rs 12 crore due to suspension of goods and passenger services.

Local railway authorities claim to have been flooded with queries from commuters about the resumption of train services on the Hisar-Bathinda rail section.

“I have to visit Sirsa at least thrice a week. It is beyond comprehension why the services remain suspended even now when peace has been restored fully in the region. It is the responsibility of law-enforcing agencies to ensure early restoration of services,” said Ram Niwas, a Hisar resident. Northern Railway’s service on the Delhi-Sirsa and the Delhi-Bathinda routes are also partially affected with termination at the Hisar railway station.