RailEnquiry

SRINAGAR, Dec 27: Protestors today put to halt the trial railway run on the Qazigund-Banihal railway track near Hillad village.
They were demanding that the halt point be constructed there. The 17 km railway track between the two towns comprises of seven kilometres railway tunnel, the longest in Asia was completed after seven years. The railway authorities after the completion of the track had decided to run the engine on the track on trial basis today.
However, reports said that the people of Hillar, put to halt the trial run on the track to press the railway authorities to meet their demands.
Reports said that scores of people from the village assembled near the railway track and protested against the railway authorities for not constructing the halting point for the train near the village. “The protestors did not allow the engine which had been put on trial to chug beyond the Hillar village. They slept on the track forcing the authorities to stop the engine only there,” eyewitnesses said.
They said the protesting people raising slogans against the railway authorities refused to move an inch from the track. “The railway authorities had assured us that a halting point will be constructed near the village but they have failed to keep their promise. There is no halting point for the train between the two townships. We cannot go to Qazigund every day to board the train to Banihal. It will serve no purpose for us if halting point is not constructed here,” said the protesting people.
When contacted, deputy commissioner, Anantnag, Farooq Ahmad Shah said that they are sorting out the issue with the railway authorities. “The railways authorities as per the people have made a commitment with them about the construction of the halting point near the village. We are sorting out the issue and let us see what can we do.”
Khawaja Sharjeel From Banihal Adds:
Thousands of people from different villages of Banihal reached Railway Station Kaskoot in Banihal to see the first and historical arrival of train from Qazigund to Banihal. But their desire to see the train reaching Kaskoot Railway Station remained unfulfilled as protestors blocked the track at Wagru (Varinag) demanding small halt station there.
People from different villages of Banihal reached Railway Station Kaskoot Banihal to look the first arrival of train from Qazigund to Banihal, the last destination of Jammu province, this afternoon. Their dream remained unfulfilled despite after hectic wait. Trail train could not reach Banihal at its scheduled arrival to 3 PM.
ME IRCON AP Mishra asserted that the train failed to cross due to restriction by the people of Wagru, Munda, Chung and Varinag. The mob blocked the railway track and sat on dharna at Wagru. People raised anti-railway slogans and were demanding small railway station at Wagru, Varinag. The rail was stopped for more than 4 hours, he added.
A local youth Muzamil Waheed hailing from Kaskoot told KTNS that he felt sad when he heard the news that train will not reach Banihal for some reasons.
Despite assurance given by ME IRCON, people of Wagru remain adamant to end protest.