Budget again disappoints Kangra residents on rail line conversion
Ravinder Sood
, February 3
The Union Budget has once again disappointed 40 lakh residents of the Kangra valley by failing to announce budgetary provisions for the conversion of the narrow gauge Pathankot-Joginder Nagar rail line into broad gauge one to boost to the economy and tourism industry of the area.
The decision of the Railways Ministry to connect Leh via Bilaspur had further given a big setback not only to the valley, but also to part of Mandi district. Before 2010, it was planned to extend the Pathankot-Joginder railway line up to Leh and an investment of Rs 10,000 crore was expected in this regard.
The British had laid down the Kangra valley narrow gauge railway line in 1932 linking all important and religious towns of Kangra and part of Mandi district. It is stated that the main object to lay the track was to carry heavy equipment for the installation of Shanan Power House at Joginder Nagar. Thanks to the apathy of the Railways which made no efforts to convert this 120-km-long rail track into broad gauge line.
Unfortunately, the Railways have not added even a single brick to the track in the past 92 years. With manifold increase in population and heavy tourist inflow to the valley, the Railways have failed to come up to the expectations of local people in the changed scenario. Same century-old and outdated engines and coaches are plying on the track. The Railways could not even introduce a first-class compartment here.
Three years ago, seven trains were plying on this route daily covering 33 stations passing through important places like Nurpur, Jwali, Jwalamukhi Road, Kangra, Nagrota Bagwan, Chamunda, Palampur, Baijnath and Joginder Nagar, which are also major tourists attraction centres of the state. However, after the collapse of Chakki Bridge four years ago, only two trains are running now, that, too, between Nurpur and Baijnath.
The condition of the rail track between Pathankot and Joginder Nagar has gone from bad to worse in the past 20 years, as the authorities have no funds to repair the same. Several small and big bridges are in bad shape. Retaining walls on the tracks have developed major cracks. Residential quarters and railway station buildings are also crying for repair.
The Kangra valley attracts lakhs of tourists every year, if rail services are improved and better amenities are provided to passengers, tourists would also like to travel by train. Efforts should also be made to convert this rail line into a broad gauge one. In the past 30 years, all small and metre gauge rail lines in South India have been converted into broad gauge ones, but this northern hill state of the country has been neglected in this regard.