Attari (Amritsar), May 4
The peace initiative between India and Pakistan has sparked the hope of the resumption of the Samjhauta Express among the residents of this tiny border township.
Pinning their hopes on the resumption of the Indo-Pak rail service traders, daily wage workers and shopkeepers here look forward to the return of the good times.
More than a lakh passengers from both countries make the journey to and from every year, contributing to the economy of Attari that mostly relies on this only train service between the two countries.
Attari station's facelift with white washing and painting of buildings has renewed hopes amongst all, including the dhabha owners who had a flourishing business before the rail route ties snapped. The STD booth owners too see a lift in their failing businesses.
The snapping of rail and road ties followed by troop build-up at the border here including large chunks of agricultural land kept off limits due to mining, have taken a heavy toll on the
economy for more than a year.
Major setbacks were evident in the three or four hotels whose occupancy rate recorded zero over the past more than a year.
The railway staff too seem jubilant over the prospect . Mr Pawan Kumar, Station Master of Attari railway station, says that about 40 railway staff, including those on various duties like commercial, mechanical, maintenance as also the railway Protection Force (RPF) and the Government Railway Police (GRP), are left idle for most of the day as only one train arrives here from Amritsar which returns within half-an-hour. Various employees of the Custom and Immigration department and passengers ensure employment of many locals.
About 70 coolies and labourers were employed for parcel making of export items, besides their loading and unloading. Six stalls of snacks in the vicinity of
Attari railway station that catered to the passengers see a new hope in the rail service.
