Retd principal on mission to bring Kangra railway back on track

Raghav Guleria

Dharamsala, February 12

PC Vishwakarma, a retired government school principal and social activist, has been taking up the issue of poor condition of narrow gauge railway line from Pathankot to Jogindernagar for the last 15 years. He has been making representations, staging dharnas over the matter but to no avail.

According to Vishwakarma, the funds were coming on a regular basis but the poor maintenance has ruined this historic rail line which was extremely useful to a large number of people of Kangra district.

Vishwakarma together with other people of the area have even staging protests at Jantar Mantar and Rajghat in New Delhi. They have also brought it to the notice of the Members of Parliament, presented memorandum at the Rashtrapati Bhawan, Prime Minister’s Office and the Railways, but the trains are still off the track.

“The trains have been suspended without any sound reason. The maintenance work is very slow. Almost eight months have passed and we are getting impatient. Three trains are stationed at Nurpur Road railway station and track between Nurpur to Guler is still not intact for the train services to begin. Why are the railway authorities not giving a green signal is beyond comprehension,” he said.

Since the establishment of the rail line in 1929, trains at Kangra valley narrow gauge track have been running successfully until 2014, barring a few interruptions.

A brainchild of a British officer, Col Betty primarily to ferry heavy machinery for the Shanan hydel project at Jogindernagar, this track still serves as a lifeline to a large population in Kangra district. Over 50 villages from Nurpur Road (Jassur) to Jawalamukhi Road (Ranital) railway stations have a considerable dependence on this rail line.

The train that used to keep the hopes of the inhabitants of this remote region alive has been lost into oblivion. The melodious whistles enthralling the villagers are not heard any longer. According to the people of this region, from 2014, the train services had started to become erratic due to extremely poor maintenance quality of the track. The protection walls constructed recently spending huge amount are crumbling whereas the stone masonry of the British times is still intact.