Restore Pathankot-Jogindernagar railway service: Residents

Our Correspondent

Nurpur, January 3

Residents of lower Kangra district have been demanding the restoration of train service on the Pathankot-Jogindernagar railway line for the past a few months, but the Northern Railway authorities have taken no initiative for the restoration of the service. The trains had been suspended in March last year amid pandemic-induced lockdown.

The train service in Harsar Dehri, Jawali, Nagrota Surian, Haripur, Guler and Dehra is considered the lifeline for thousands of people in the region as the road transport facility is scanty in the region.

The train service on the Kalka-Shimla rail line has already been restored a few months ago whereas people of Kangra have been deprived of this economical transport means notwithstanding repeated requests by the locals.

The train service that was suspended nine months ago has virtually left the residents of the district high and dry and the state government has also “failed” to take up this issue with the Union Railway Ministry.

This railway line also plays a significant role in trading activities in Kangra as it is linked with Pathankot, a major business centre in Punjab. Prior to the pandemic, six trains were plying on

this route.

Senior Congress leader Chander Kumar has alleged that the train service was not restored because of the indifferent attitude of sitting area MP Kishan Kapoor.