Projects on hold as elevation of narrow gauge rail track ruled out in Pathankot
Ravi Dhaliwal
Tribune News Service
Pathankot, August 9
The economy of the area is in doldrums, the city refuses to expand, voters feel betrayed and hundreds of real estate investors are wary of pumping money into new projects. The reason is that a solution to the vexed problem of the level-crossings (fatak) continues to elude the city.
City divided into two parts
- Nine level-crossings are located on the 3.6-km narrow gauge line passing through the city’s municipal limits
- These crossings simultaneously close nearly a dozen times a day leading to massive traffic snarls
- This also divides the city into two parts for long periods of time, slowing the pace of the town and sending the economy for a hit
Nine level-crossings are located on the 3.6-km narrow gauge line passing through the city’s municipal limits. These crossings simultaneously close nearly a dozen times a day leading to massive traffic snarls. This also divides the city into two parts for long periods of time, slowing the pace of the town and sending the economy for a hit.
Till the nineties, Pathankot’s growth was driven by the three Ts — timber, travel and transport. However, the ‘fataks’ made sure these businesses were wiped off the city’s map.
These days the bridge on Chakki river is being repaired. This means the Jogindernagar-Pathankot train is not coming to the city from the hills. This is, however, a temporary reprieve. The problem will resurface once the bridge is restored after six months.
The latest setback is the Railways’ refusal to elevate the track. A few years ago, the Railways had successfully completed such a venture in Rohtak where a 4.85-km stretch of elevated track replaced four level crossings. Hence, residents were optimistic that a similar project would prove to be a boon to their city.
A few years ago, Rs 286 crore were sanctioned by the Union Government. The state government had also agreed to contribute its share. However, Covid played spoilsport and subsequently the money was never released.
Several solutions have been discussed and subsequently discounted by technical experts. Among them was to halt the toy train before it enters the city, preferably at Dalhousie. The Railways countered this by saying it would face a “loss of revenue”.
Anil Vasudeva, ex-Mayor, however, said the Railways should bracket the project in the ‘socially desirable projects category’. “This will nullify the debate over the loss of revenue,” he claims.
Construction of a couple of underpasses was also put on the table. This option, too, was rejected due to encroachments.
The political parties have been using this issue as a convenient lever to extract votes. Voters say they have been betrayed as the BJP has done nothing of significance to mitigate the sufferings of the city and its residents so far.
