Covid crisis almost over, resume local trains, demand commuters

Deepender Deswal

Tribune News Service

Hisar, February 9

Since passenger train services are not yet operational, thousands of commuters who used to travel by these trains daily prior to the Covid pandemic are facing problems.

Other transport services cost thrice

Commuters said in the absence of local train services, the lower-middle class and poor sections of society were worst hit as they had to avail buses and other transport services, which are almost three-time costlier than the train services.

On clearance, More trains to start operations

More trains will start operations as soon as the Railway Board gives clearance.— YS Sharma, Spokesman, Indian railways

According to railway officials in Hisar, there are 60 trains which used to offer services to the commuters daily in Hisar district. However, while 16 trains (mostly express train services), have resumed operations, remaining 44 are still suspended.

The local passengers require the services of passenger trains to commute from nearby towns and villages to the cities. Hisar district has 11 railway stations, including one junction – Hisar. However, no trains halt at other railway stations located in Adampur, Uklana, Barwala, Chirod, Raipur, Dhansu, Mayyar, Nyoli Kalan, Jakhod Khera and Satrod. So, these stations are lying almost redundant as there is no footfall of commuters.

The commuters said in the absence of the local train services, the lower-middle class and poor sections of the society were worst hit as they had to avail buses and other transport services, which are almost three-time costlier than the train services.

Though the long-route express trains and some passenger trains which were turned into express trains, including Amritsar, Ajmer, Hardwar-Bikaner, Ganganagar-Rewari, Delhi–Bhatinda etc. have started operations, but these trains do not halt at local stations.

Kuldeep Singh, a resident of Jakhod Khera village rued that he used to take the train to commute between Hisar and his village by paying less but now, he has to shell out three times more to visit Hisar. “Not only the passengers, the closed train services have also affected local businesses like that of tea-sellers and shops near the railways stations”, he said while demanding that since the Covid crisis is almost over, all the train services should be resumed now.

An Indian Railways spokesperson YS Sharma said the train services were being resumed as per the clearance and instructions of the Railway Board. “More trains will start operations as soon as the Railway Board gives clearance”, he said.