BAHAWALPUR: The Pakistan Railways is working to rehabilitate the discarded Samasatta-Bahawalnagar railway section and plans to run a passenger train here, Dawn has learnt.

The work started sometime ago is near completion.

The section closed passenger train operations about 12 years ago because of losses when only two passenger trains from Samasatta to Bahawalnagar would run. In addition, goods trains would also operate on the track.

There was a time when the track was considered important as it is located near the border area. During Indo-Pak wars of 1965 and 1970, the section helped the Pakistan Army sustained supplies to the border belt along Sulemanki Sector of Pakistan.

Dawn learned when the railways closed down trains on the section 12 years ago, then higher railway officials considered rooting out the railway track but the defence ministry opposed the move.

The years of neglect is visible on the section as the track is badly damaged at several points. The rehabilitation of the track and railway stations is expected to be completed by December, said officials.

The public relations officer in the office of the Multan divisional superintendent told Dawn authorities had been told to start trains on the section by Dec 15. She said the train would start its operation by that date.

After the revival of railway traffic on Samasatta-Bahawalnagar section, trains may be operated up from Bahawalnagar to Amruka railway station from where it may be linked to Lahore. With the operation of a train on this section, passengers from Bahawalnagar, Haroonabad and Fortabbas would be able to catch trains for Karachi from Samasatta railway junction.

The Amruka-Bahawalnagar-Samasatta railway junction was once connected to New Delhi via Bhatindha on one end and to Karachi the other end before Partition.

The people of the area after the closure of the train operation on this section had been demanding the operation of a fast train on this section to provide them travelling facilities and to compete the present-day air-conditioned and fast public transport .The Pakistan Railways may examine their demand in the future provided the passenger trains fetch a substantial income for the railways.

Published in Dawn, November 28th, 2018