SHAKEELA ANDRABI
SRINAGAR: Commuters using Banihal-Baramulla rail services are facing several hardships due to less frequency of trains. The service in Kashmir Valley was resumed in March last year after remaining suspended for around 11 months due to COVID-19 pandemic.
Former Railway minister Piyush Goel had once claimed that the resumption of train service would enhance ease of movement and give a major boost to the tourism sector. But the ground reality is quite different, as railway authorities have not resumed full operation.
According to officials, “We are trying to increase number of train services according to graded manner. Already 50 per cent trains are running and more will be added gradually.”
Currently, only five trains which are fully reserved are in operation and daily commuters including tourists are facing several hardships. It is pertinent to mention here, when COVID lockdown was announced, all rail services were cancelled and after eleven months, rail service from Banihal to Srinagar resumed with some mandatory protocol. Many passengers, including women and tourists, demanded that the frequency of trains be increased to avoid the rush hour. Maintaining social distancing norms inside compartments after the resumption of services is a challenge for railway authority, as COVID cases are once again on the rise. Railway police personnel and other officials can be seen making futile attempts to control surge of passengers at stations, especially at Anantnag, Srinagar and other sections.
In Srinagar -Baramulla section, trains are relatively less congested. Crowds were witnessed at several places, including Badgam, Awantipora and Nowgam Srinagar.
Considering the needs of the commuters, the railway should gradually increase the services as country is witnessing an increase in COVID-19 once again. However, in morning and evening hours, the trains are crowded with women passengers, which cane further result into increase in COVID-19 cases. “As women passengers are not allotted any time slots in morning or afternoon, the maximum number of women are dependent on local bus services while returning from their work place. Hence, the long gap between trains leads to crowds, especially for local women passengers. “I travel from Srinagar to Anantnag daily during peak morning and evening hours. Rail service is not running with full frequency and no new or special train has been inducted yet as well as gap between trains are of two to three hours, which causes more rush, especially during peak hours,” said Sumaira Maqbool from Srinagar. “Crowd leads to violation of social distancing and other safety precautions. Hence, increasing frequency will reduce risk following safety norms while traveling,” said Sara Akhter, another commuter from Anantnag.
