Train service most attractive for kashmiris

Train service on Anantnag-Srinagar- Baramulla route, remained the most sought after mode of transport for people in Kashmir during strikes and holidays.

However, today hundreds of people who travelled from South and North Kashmir to Srinagar were disappointed after they learnt about the undeclared curfew restrictions imposed by the authorities.

Majority of them later travelled back to their homes by the return train.

”We do good business during strikes and other holidays, especially on Sundays when people along with their families enjoy the joyride of train,” said a railway official.

He said strikes or any other restriction did not have any impact on train service, which connects Baramulla with Anantnag through Badgam and Srinagar stations.

He said even during Amarnath land row and undeclared curfew and strikes during Assembly elections last year, train service remained unaffected.

A UNI correspondent who visited the Srinagar railway station at Nowgam saw a large number of people, along with their families, waiting to board train.

”I just want to take my family to Baramulla and travel back by the return train in the evening,” said Abdul Aziz, who has never crossed the Jawahar tunnel so far.

”My wife and children were very happy to see train for the first time today,” he said, adding strike and undeclared curfew provided him a chance to have joyride of the train.

However, another passenger Abdul Hamid who had come from Kakpora was very disappointed after he was told about the restrictions and strike.

He said he had come to deliver food to his family members in a hospital where his sister was admitted.

The passengers criticised the authorities for not making any arrangement at the railway station in the absence of private transport service. They said three-wheelers were charging several times higher fare against the normal rates.

A girl, studying in the Kashmir University said she had gone to his house on Saturday and returned only today. She too had to catch return train but she was told that she cannot reach to her rented house at Lal Bazar on the city outskirts.