Chhuk...chhuk gaadi! KANGRA RAIL.
City Air News photo: Arvind Sharma
Dharamsala, February 3, 2013: 120-km-long, Kangra valley narrow-gauge rail line, which was laid down by the English government in 1932, and which plays a significant role in the economy of this region, is in a bad shape.
It is totally neglected by the Indian Railways.
Railway Ministry, which was headed by the men who gave little care to this area of the country during past few decades kept their ears closed to listen to change this track according to the pace of the century and virtually made no efforts in the past 80 years to convert this 120-km long rail track into a broad gauge line.
The area is almost a flat highly populated valley, much less tough to Kashmir valley were railways reached. The area is having the seat of Dalai Lama, International Cricket center, Dharamsala, which deserves a modern Broad gauge rail like, which shall be a beneficial link to Indian Army in Himachal and J&K.
New Rail Minister from North India too is aware of this need of the area. The people of Himachal hope for the renovation of this old rail line.
New Congress-led state government and the people of the state are eagerly waiting for a favorable response from Railway Ministry in the forthcoming Rail Budget. There is a growing demand that the Indian Railway should convert Pathankot-Jogindernagar route into Broad Gauge and to extend it to Mandi.
The railway line was planned in May, 1926 and commissioned in 1929. The highest point on this line is at Ahju station at an elevation of 1,210 meters (3,970 ft). The terminus at Joginder Nagar is at an elevation of 1,189 meters (3,901 ft). This railway line of 1932, linking all important and religious towns of Kangra and parts of Mandi district (most populated area of the state is waiting for broad gauge conversion.
During past few years, number of plans were drawn up to convert this narrow gauge line into a broad gauge line, but all remained confined to files.
With a manifold increase in the population and the tourist traffic in the Kangra valley, the Railways have failed to come up to the expectations of the local people.
Too old powers and coaches are still plying on this track.
Even the authorities could not introduce the regular first-class compartment here.
At present, some trains ply on this route daily covering 33 stations and passing through important places such as Nurpur, Jawali, Jwalamukhi Road, Kangra, Nagrota Bagwan, Chamunda, Palampur, Panchrukhi , Baijnath and Jogindernagar, which are also major tourists attraction centers of the state.
The condition of the rail track between Pathankot and Jogindernagar has gone from bad to worse in the past 10 years, as the Railways authorities have no funds to repair the same. Several small and big bridges are in bad shape, even the damage of a bridge recently cause suspension of rail traffic in this rout for months together. The retaining walls on the tracks have developed major cracks. As such it poses threat for a tragedy anytime.
Almost all 33 railway stations of the Kangra valley railway line lack basic facilities like drinking water, cleanliness and waiting rooms for passengers. The authorities even could not introduce the regular first-class compartment.
The Kangra valley attracts lakhs of tourists every year. It is strongly believed that if the rail services are improved and better amenities are provided to the passengers, tourist inflow would raise.