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| As Div Com asks for resumption of train, security agencies face yet another challenge in valley | | | Jehangir Rashid
Early Times Report
SRINAGAR, Nov 9: As the divisional administration of Kashmir has asked the railway authorities to resume train services from November 11 (Monday) the security agencies are up against yet another challenge in the Kashmir valley. Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Baseer Ahmad Khan convened a meeting with the Northern Railways authorities on November 5 in which he asked the later to start the train services from November 11. The train chugs from Baramulla in North Kashmir to Banihal in the Jammu division.
Khan asked the railway authorities to carry out the trial run of the train tomorrow (Sunday) and resume the regular service from Monday (November 11). He also directed the authorities to carry out the inspection of the railway tracks across the Kashmir valley and parts of Jammu division. The total distance covered by the train from one side is around 150 kilometers.
It would be in place to mention here that railway service was suspended on August 5 after Government of India abrogated Articles 370 and 35-A of the Constitution of India. These articles gave special position to the state of Jammu & Kashmir. Since then Jammu & Kashmir has been bifurcated into two union territories Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh.
Sources told Early Times that since Kashmir valley is observing shutdown since August 5 it would be difficult for the security agencies to provide security along the rail track from Baramulla to Banihal and vice-versa. It would be a herculean task for the agencies to ensure safety as well as security of the people travelling by train.
"In the past the train service would remain suspended as and when some incident related to militancy took place in any part of the Kashmir valley. It was due to this reason only that no train has chugged between Baramulla and Banihal and vice-versa since August 5. The suspension of train service has led to problems for people especially those who would frequently visit different districts of Kashmir," said sources.
Sources said that the decision to restart the train service has been taken in order to bring some semblance of normalcy in the Kashmir valley. They said the authorities believe that this step would inculcate confidence among the people who are engaged with the public transport facility in the valley.
"As on date the flow of public transport in Kashmir is very less and people are experiencing problems on this front. It is believed that once the train service restarts, the other means of public transport would also start to run. In such a manner the authorities can then claim that normalcy has returned to the Kashmir valley," said sources.
The Baramulla-Banihal train service connects people of different districts and over the years it has become favourite means of public transport for the people. The train service has been instrumental in bringing the people of Baramulla, Budgam, Srinagar, Pulwama, Anantnag and Doda close to one another. |
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