Losses owing to suspension of rail passenger service between Banihal and Baramulla during last two years of unrest in the valley have been estimated by rail authorities to the tune of 360 crore rupees. It is to be reminded that during five month long unrest in the valley in 2016, angry mobs burnt down some rail stations and caused damage to the railway line especially those passing through the district of Pulwama. By and large railways have not suffered very big and serious losses during the periods of turmoil and whatever losses have been incurred are mostly cantered in Pulwama district yet the real losses are in generating revenue by selling the tickets. On an average 30,000 passengers travel on Banihal-Baramulla line daily and the revenue is to the tune of 3 lakh rupees per day by the sale of tickets.
People of the valley are not fully aware what it was to bring railway to Kashmir. They are not well informed on the great venture Indian Railways have made in piercing the heart of the stately mountains and bridging furiously flowing rivers and nullahs to build the railway and bring it to the valley. From Baramulla to Banihal it would normally take 5-6 hours of bus travel and that too if it was not winter and no snow was on the road. With the coming of railway this travel has been reduced to just two and half hours of comfortable and scenic ride besides at a very low cost. By inflicting damage on the railways, the hooligans are showing that they are thankless people. Railways have lost 360 crore rupees owing to last year’s unrest and suspension of service. Whose loss is it? We would like to put this question to those who are responsible for this loss viz. the leadership that gave a call for unrest, hartal and stone throwing and burning public property. Is it loss to Centre or of the people of the State? The people of the valley shall have to re-think what they are doing with themselves.
Follow our WhatsApp channel