Closing of Ghungrana, Jassowal halt stations inconveniences residents

Our Correspondent

Ahmedgarh, December 30

Closure of the Ghungrana and Jassowal halt stations by the Railway authorities has disrupted normal routine of residents of more than 12 villages situated along the Ludhiana-Dhuri railway line as they have to use alternative modes of transport now to reach their destinations.

They use private vehicles to reach Gill and Ahmedgarh railway stations in case they want to travel by trains now. Soldiers, students, daily-wagers, small traders and employees are among the worst affected.

The Railway authorities said facility had been withdrawn due to decrease in number of passengers during the lockdown period.

Residents led by Sikandar Singh Jartauli regretted that the government, instead of modernising halt stations at Ghungrana and Jassowal villages had withdrawn facility, which they had been using for over six decades.

“Most unfortunate is that the government has withdrawn a facility, which compensated for the lack of education institutes in the region. Even poor students could commute from their villages to schools and colleges in Ludhiana city at nominal fairs,” said Jartauli while maintaining that withdrawal of the facility had affected hundreds of commuters from lower and middle sections of agrarian society.

Residents of Rangian, Gopalpur, Brahmanmajra, Dhulkot, Nangal, Jartauli, Khera, Chupki, Kaind and Dulley villages are now forced to use alternative, expensive and unsafe means of transportation or spend extra money and time to reach Gill and Ahmedgarh stations to board trains.

The Ahmedgarh railway station authorities confirmed that Ghungrana and Jassowal halt stations had been closed owing to decrease in number of passengers boarding trains from these points during the Covid pandemic.

The Railways need not consult local authorities or state governments before closing halts stations unless these are opened at the formers instance.