90 years on, Railways fails to spruce up Kangra valley line

Ravinder Sood

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Palampur, July 28

The Railways will introduce a new high-power engine on the Kangra valley rail line next week.

However, the 120-km-long Pathankot Jogindernagar narrow gauge railway line, which is called lifeline of the residents of the Kangra valley, is in a state of neglect. In last 90 years, not even a single brick has been added to this rail track.

The British had laid down a narrow gauge rail line in 1932 before Independence, linking all important and religious towns of Kangra and parts of Mandi districts.

Little progress since 1932

• In the past 90 years, a number of plans were drawn up to convert this narrow gauge line into a broad gauge one, but all these remained confined to files.
• A dozen railway stations have been functioning from one room. The family quarters of the Railways employees are on the verge of collapse and their families are living in hellish conditions

Col BC Vetty, a British engineer, had laid this track to carry heavy equipment for the installation of Shanan Power House at Jogindernagar, the first hydroelectric power project in North India.

In the past 90 years, a number of plans were drawn up to convert this narrow gauge line into a broad gauge one, but all these remained confined to files. With manifold increase in the population and increase in tourist traffic in the past 25 years to the Kangra valley, the Railways have failed to come up to the expectations of local people.

The same century old, outdated coaches have been plying on this track. The Railways authorities could not even introduce a regular first-class compartment here.

Earlier, seven trains were plying on this route daily between Pathankot and Jogindernagar, covering 33 stations passing through important places and major tourists attraction centres of the state.

However, after the collapse of the Chakki bridge near Pathankot, only three trains were plying between Nurpur and Baijnath. Now, the three trains have also be cancelled with the onset of monsoons.

The Railways authorities have been extending step-motherly treatment to this rail section. Several small and big bridges, built during the British era, are in a bad shape. The retaining walls on the tracks have developed major cracks. The railway line has already lived its life, but no efforts have been made to replace it, which could lead to a tragedy any time.

The residential quarters and railway station buildings are also crying for repair. Besides, facilities like drinking water, cleanliness and waiting room for the passengers are lacking in most stations. One would not believe that a dozen railway stations have been functioning from one room. Patti, Chauntra, Paror and Chamunda railway stations have no room for the passengers to even sit. Even these stations have no temporary shed to save the passengers from sun and rain.

The family quarters of the Railways employees are on the verge of collapse and their families are living in hellish conditions. No senior officer of the Railways bothers to visit this track, said sources.