Title - Train passengers face a tough time in Valley

Srinagar: Hundreds of train passengers had a tough time on Sunday as most of the trains in the Valley were running late due to heavy rush.After the inauguration of the Banihal-Qazigund rail link on June 26, many people from the Valley took a joy ride in the train, especially during the weekends. The Railway authorities are facing a tough time to ensure that the train runs on schedule.“Some passengers climbed the roof of the train at Banihal. Since the train had to cross through a tunnel, we had to stop the train. We had to request the commuters to get down,” said a railway official.However, the commuters alleged that the railways was taking them for a ride.“If there is a heavy rush, the railways should increase the number of coaches so that people could find some space in the train,” said Aijaz Ahmed, a resident of Sopore. “We were waiting for hours at Banihal and many families who had travelled in the train from Kashmir were left high and dry,” he added.Another commuter said the government should look as to why the railways was not introducing new coaches.

“If they have introduced the train up to Banihal, why can’t they introduce new coaches?" asked Shahid Anayat.

The scene at various railway stations was chaotic. There were reports that commuters had heated arguments with the railway officials over the delay in timings. In Baramulla, angry passengers damaged the ticket counter.

After Prime Minister Manmohan Singh flagged off the train between Banihal and Qazigund, nearly 20,000 people travel in the train everyday. The number was nearly 9,000 when the train journey was limited to Qazigund only.