RailEnquiry

Ludhiana ; Traders want re-opening of the “Golden Track” once the trade at Attari-Wagah border resumes. Even the Punjab government has demanded re-opening of the Ferozepur and Fazilka border for trade and transit with Pakistan. The government’s demand has rekindled hope among traders for revival of trade activities.The re-opening of pre-Partition rail link between Ludhiana and Karachi, popularly known as “Golden Track”, could change the fortunes of these border districts in particular and will also give boost to trade in Punjab and North India.“The Golden Track, which runs between Ludhiana and Karachi via Ferozepur and Fazilka, was the most economically viable and shortest route on which trade activity flourished in pre-Partition days as Karachi and Ludhiana were the hub of industry and trade in those days too, muses Harinder Singh Nanda, 80-year-old trader from the old city area.All towns en route this rail link also contributed in a major way. Fazilka was one of the largest wool and cotton markets of the northern region in those days. Its trade activities extended up to erstwhile Burma (now Myanmar) and Liverpool in England through this route, he added.“If the ‘Golden Track’ is re-opened it would give a boost the trade in the city. Since trade at the Attari-Wagah border has been opened, hopes have been kindled that “Golden track” will also once again see trade flourishing here,” added Lalit Jain, another industrialist from the city.

Down the memory lane
This 1,000-km-long rail track was set up by the East India Company. The Indian raw material was transported through this rail link to Europe, East Asia and the Gulf. The areas surrounding Ludhiana, Ferozerpur, Fazilka (now in India) and Amruka, Samarsatta and Minchanabad, Hyderabad to Karachi port (now in Pakistan), which fall along this track, flourished. With Partition, the link was snapped and it had a telling effect on the economy of these places.