No Broad-gauge for Kangra rail, narrow gauge train speed will be increased and modernized: Rail Minister

Dharamshala, December 2, 2018: Indian Rail minister Piyush Goel was in Dharamshala on Sunday and interacted with the press. He said, “I surveyed the Joginder Nagar – Pathankot Narrow-gauge rail track along with Himachal CM Jai Ram Thakur through helicopter today. I was surprised to know that that this 164-km rail journey takes around 9 hours. It is really suffering for the travellers. Now I met the rail authorities in Dharamshala and ordered them to do oscillation trails on this track in next 100 days, after a fresh survey of the track, to reduce this 9 hours tiring journey to a moderate 6 hour journey. I have just now ordered the railway board on phone, to construct new railway compartments for this track, to give more speed to the rail and to also provide more comforts to the passengers. I also ordered them to prepare few vista dome coaches for wider scenic view in these trains, on the lines of European train.”

Minister said that the very old and damaged rail line on Pathankot Joginder Nagar Track shall be replaced by the new one.

“The 17 main stations on this track shall be facilitated with free wi-fi facility in next 6 months”, the minister said. He added, “Indian rail has the fastest wi-fi facility in the country and it is being made available on 709 stations of the country. And when it will be given on Shimla Kalka track and Pathankot- Joginder Nagar track, it will attract more tourism. He said that the railways and the state government will work together to attract film industry to do shootings on these tracks. Kangra station shall be upgraded to be given a heritage look.

He said that a steam engine train will now ply between Palampur and Baijnath to attract tourists.

He rejected the need of converting Pathankot - Joginder Nagar narrow gauge into broad gauge as the same would disturb the beauty of the nature of the area and it will lose its heritage values too. He said that instead we will increase the speed and the facilities of narrow gauge, to modernize it.

Chief Minister Himachal Jai Ram who was with the minister said, “It is a matter of great pain that we have not extended the rail networks of Kalka –Shimla and Pathankot –Jaginder Nagar narrow gauge network since the time it was established by the British rule. I have discussed the issue with the rail minister Piyush Goel two three times in Delhi as well as today during his visit to the state. I requested him to visit Himachal and examine the possibilities of rail expansion or modernisation because we are highly focusing on the connectivity and rail is one of the means. If we have better rail, it will invite tourism besides providing more transportation facility to public and will be helpful in defence sector too. Rail Minister himself travelled in the Kalka Shimla rail and felt the necessity of the area.