Trial run done, Srinagar-Banihal rail route likely to open from Monday
After resumption of rail services in north Kashmir earlier this week, two trial runs on Srinagar-Banihal railway line were conducted successfully on Saturday, paving the way for resumption of full services in the Kashmir Valley likey from Monday, officials said.
“A train conducted the trial run in the morning and another in the afternoon,” a railways official said. The trial runs, through the restive south Kashmir, were done after a thorough safety audit of the section.
The official said the trial will continue on Sunday as well and the services are likely to resume from Monday.
Senior superintendent of police (railways security) Shafaqat Ahmad said the two trains made trips back and forth from Srinagar to Banihal. “The security needed for the resumption of train services has been put in place,” he added.
Train services in the Valley were suspended on August 3, ahead of the Centre’s decision to abrogate Article 370 and bifurcate the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir into two Union territories.
With improvement in the situation in Valley, the rail services were made operational on the 55km stretch between Srinagar and Baramulla in north Kashmir on Tuesday after 100 days. The authorities were awaiting security clearance to resume the services in south Kashmir.
On Monday, the railways accompanied by top security officials held a trial run of the train from Srinagar to north Kashmir’s Baramulla and back again.
The train service was suspended on August 5 when restrictions were imposed across Kashmir
THE TRAIN SERVICES IN KASHMIR VALLEY WERE SUSPENDED ON AUGUST 3, AHEAD OF THE CENTRE’S DECISION TO ABROGATE ARTICLE 370
and communications suspended after the state’s special status was scrapped.
Officials say that due to suspension of services for over three months, the railways have incurred heavy losses as trains in Kashmir had 100% occupancy.
In summer, every day, 35,000 to 40,000 commuters use train services while in winters around 25,000 people travel daily by train. Also, this time there was no attack by stone pelters on any railway property in the Valley.
A senior railway official said the train from Srinagar to Anantnag and Banihal will be resumed after security clearance from the Jammu and Kashmir police. Officials said after every 15 days, the railway seeks permission and security clearance from the police. “Only after the security clearance, trains are made operational,” the official said.
Also, this time there was no attack by stone pelters on any railway property in the Valley.
Days before the withdrawal of the state’s special status, a letter from a senior railway official based in Valley had given an inkling that something big is in the offing.
The officer in his communication had directed the staff to store ration and water for four months and had mentioned details about preventive measures in case of protests or attacks on railway properties. He was subsequently removed.
This is not the first time when rail services remained suspended for long period in Kashmir.
The equipment of railways was damaged during the 2010 agitation. In 2016, after the killing of Hizb commander Burhan Wani, the rail services had remained suspended for over six months.
This time, suspension of train services had also put on hold the running of glass top coaches on the Banihal-Baramulla railway stretch that was being finalised by the railway officials. The glass top coaches were aimed to attract tourists and high-end passengers.
Seven trains (DEMUs), operating between Banihal and Baramulla, were placed under the vigil of security forces at the Budgam railway station, where the railway headquarters is located.