Indian Railways train to Kashmir becomes a big Hit

Train to Kashmir has already proved to a big hit as the railways has managed to fetch an income of rupees seven lakh during the last eighteen days, with 72812 passengers availing the travel facilities from Qazigund to Nowgam.

The first train in Kashmir was flagged off from Nowgam station of Budgam district on 12 October and since then, the train has remained jam-packed with passengers waiting in long que's to get a ticket.
Holidays have registered the higher number of passengers for the Srinagar - Anantnag train while as those who have a joyride with their family members prefer to board the train on Sundays.

Railway authorities say that on 19 October i.e., Sunday an income of rupees 69019 were courted by railways. "A total passenger legion of 6726 travelled in the train that day", Mohammad Ayub Dar, Commercial Inspector Railways Kashmir told Press Bureau of India.
The average income of the train is Rs. 33 to 38 thousand per day and the railway officials are optimistic that the income will not loose the spiral in the days to come. "We are confident enough that our present fare earnings will not face any dent in the near future. A severe cold may undo our target, otherwise there is no problem", the Commercial Inspector added.

As, the train has 7 to 8 bogies and each bogie can accommodate 60 to 90 passengers, the railway officials are not content with the space in view of the huge passenger rush. They have already written to Central Railways about increasing the space by adding more bogies to the trains. "We have already communicated to the higher authorities about the need, we expect to get them very soon", Dar told Press Bureau of India.

As the train in Kashmir provides an economical travel both in terms of fare and time, it has proved a big attraction for the passengers. A passenger has to shell out rupees eleven to travel in the train from Nowgam to Qazigund, which is much less than the Sumo fare of rupees sixty.

"Ever since the train moved in Kashmir, I have been feeling eased with respect to travel. I could save time and money that used to haunt me in a huge way", Nazir Ahmad, an official working in Srinagar told Press Bureau of India, adding that every day he boards the train at Qazigund with all convenience reaching Srinagar on time. (PBI)

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