Gurdaspur Diary: Pathankot Toy train goes from boon to bane
When this train moves, the city comes to a standstill. And with this, it also brings the local economy to a halt. This is true of the toy train that runs between Jogindernagar and Pathankot on a narrow gauge rail track. The track is a gift of the British Raj. However, several decades down the line, it has become an impediment in the growth of the city. There are as many as nine rail level crossings on the 3.6 km long stretch of track that passes through the city. These crossings simultaneously close at least dozen times a day resulting in traffic chaos. The city remains divided into two parts for long periods of time. It has definitely become an eyesore for residents. Businessmen, particularly those dealing in real estate, are no longer interested in investing in the city. They say that first a solution has to be found to the level crossings before they pitch in with their money. Recently, the railways put the proposal to elevate the track on hold. This means just one option is left. That is to terminate the train on the city’s outskirts just as it enters the municipal limits of Pathankot. However, railway officials say this is not feasible as it will result in loss of revenue. Actually, all the stakeholders are tired of finding a resolution. Residents and rail officials should know that there is no use talking about a problem unless you also talk about the solution. Ex-Mayor Anil Vasudeva, who has also remained a former Chairman of the local Improvement Trust, and hence is a man who surely knows something about the city and its problems, says if a solution is not found quickly, the city will not expand. And cities which do not expand, die. The need of the hour is for the residents to form an association with the explicit aim of looking into the issue. After all, problems become smaller when you confront them instead of dodging them. From the recurring clack of the wheels on tracks to the ephemeral glimpses of passing landscapes, train travel has for long brought with it feelings of nostalgia and wanderlust. This is not true for Pathankot and its residents as they rather unsuccessfully try to grapple with the conundrum.
Passport condition unlikely to be waived
When the Kartarpur corridor was being planned, officials had estimated that at least 5,000 devotees would cross over every day to pay obeisance at the Darbar Sahib shrine in Pakistan. Officials had shot wide off the target because on an average, just 100-150 pilgrims visit the shrine every day. This is primarily due to the fact that people have to carry their passports along with them. The passport is not stamped but its details are uploaded on immigration sites at the corridor. Now, not many people have passports. Several NGOs and social bodies have urged the Ministry of Home Affairs to waive the condition. The latest news is that this condition is likely to stay. This, in essence, means that the corridor will never attract people in large numbers.
(Contributed by Ravi Dhaliwal)
