Train service resumes on Pathankot-Jogindernagar line

Our Correspondent

Nurpur, June 15

The train service on the Pathankot-Jogindernagar narrow gauge line resumed today after remaining suspended for over a month due to the curfew. The Northern Railway started two up and two down trains on the route though there were only a few passengers due to an improper time table scheduled by the authorities. The train service had earlier remained suspended for 11 months due the first wave of Covid, and was resumed on February 22 this year. However, it was again suspended in March after a sharp spurt in Covid cases.

Commuters Arun Kumar, Ram Swaroop, Sunil Kumar and Asha Devi, all residents of Nagrota Surian, have appealed to the railway authorities to keep at least a six or seven hours’ gap between both trains so that they could frequently leave the station and return home the same day. They said that the present time table was not suitable for the commuters of the area.

According to sources, the first train started from Pathankot at 7.50 am and reached the Baijnath railway station at 1.15 pm. The same train left Baijnath at 2.10 pm and reached Pathankot at 9.30 pm.

The commuters paid Rs 30 to travel from Nagrota Surian to Guler whereas the bus fare for this journey is Rs 25. Similarly. the travellers paid Rs 30 for the journey from Jawali to Nagrota Surian while earlier they had to pay only Rs 10.

There is demand to rationalise train fares keeping in view the distance mileage between the railway stations and reduce it from Rs 30 to Rs 10 so that a maximum number of commuters can travel by train.