From Budgam to Islamabad
13th October 2008
As the first ever train in Kashmir with 75 onboard passengers honked its departure whistle at 7.25 am Sunday and started chugging towards south Kashmir’s Islamabad district joy filled central Kashmir’s Budgam railway station.
Chief Area Manager, Prithul Kumar flagged off the train in presence of SSP Railways G A Dar and other Railway officials.
Among the 75 passengers, Noor Muhammad, 63, of Budgam was the first to purchase a ticket.
“After offering Fajar prayers I straightway ran towards the station. I am extremely happy to be the first one to buy a ticket,” said Noor Muhammad.
On its return from Islamabad the train reached Budgam Railway Station crowded with more than 500 passengers.
Most of them had boarded the train with the intention of taking a joy ride.
The railway authorities lost count of passengers as many of them had traveled to Srinagar without tickets. “We were not expecting such a response. As a goodwill gesture we authorized everyone to travel even without tickets. Only 400 tickets were sold. Rest are traveling without tickets,” said an official of Railway Station Budgam.
“I am boarding a train for the first time in my life. It is like a dream come true,” said Imtiyaz Ahmed Baig, 24, of Kakapora Pulwama.
Most of the onboard passengers traveled to and fro and many said boarding a train was like a reverie which finally came true.
“Whenever I used to see train in films, its rhythmic sound used to fascinate me. Today I got a chance to feel it in reality,” said Owais Nazir, 17, of Kadipora Islamabad.
Passing through rice fields this eight-coach train got warm welcome from the farmer communities harvesting in the fields.
Men, women and children in groups were waving their hands with a smirk of smile on their face.
As the train would reach nearer to each station, the passengers in groups waiting on the railway platform carrying fruits, juices and snacks were readying themselves for a first ever train outing.
“I’m going wherever this train is destined,” said Hafeezullah Dar, 69, of Ompora Budgam.
After Budgam Railway station, the train passed through Nowgam, Pampore, Kakpora, Awantipora, Panjgam and Bijbehara besides Rajwansher and Islamabad.
The eight-coach Diesel Electric Multiple Unit (DEMU) train with a capacity for 720 passengers has wide windows for broader view for picturesque valley. It also has well-cushioned executive class stretch back seats.
“I have traveled in the best trains of India but our train is better than the best. It has similar facilities to Delhi metro service,” said Dilawar Cheetah, 53, of Islamabad who frequently travels to New Delhi.
Taking full advantage of the present technocratic world, the youth carrying latest flashy cell phone were recording each moment inside the train.
“Today’s day is historic. I’m recording these moments with an intention to upload this video on the internet,” said Shah Sareen, 23, of Budgam.
After covering all seven stations connecting central Kashmir district of Budgam with south Kashmir districts of Islamabad, the train after reaching Islamabad changed its direction and whistled off at 9.05 am towards Srinagar.
It reached Srinagar (Nowgam) Railway Station at 10.15 am and turned off its engine for four hours rest in Budgam Railway Station at 10.35 am.
However, many passengers expressed their dissatisfaction with the public information system as the signboards and announcement facilities inside the train don’t spot official language Urdu and instead have signboards in English and Hindi languages.
“This train is for low socio-economic group of people. Most people here are illiterate and can only read Urdu,” said Arshid Qazi, 30, of Bijbhera Islamabad.
Reacting to this, the Chief Area Manager (CAM) Railways, Prithul Kumar said: “Due to non-availability of Urdu and Kashmiri software we were not able to record passenger announcements in these two languages. But we have taken note of it and such facilities will be provided in future.”
About sign boards, Kumar said, “The signboards everywhere in India are in English and Hindi languages. Same has been applied in Kashmir.”
Source: Rising Kashmir