Srinagar, June 23: As the number of Covid-19 cases has seen a sharp decrease in Jammu and Kashmir, the authorities on Wednesday decided to resume the train services on the 137-kilometre Banihal-Baramulla rail line from July 1 albeit with 50 per cent passenger capacity.
After witnessing normal operations for almost three months, railway services were suspended on May 10 after the Covid situation had worsened and the suspension has continued since.
The decision to continue suspension of train service till June 30 and a gradual resumption from July 1 comes at a time when Kashmir has witnessed ease in Covid lockdown.
Officials told Greater Kashmir that as per an order issued, the rail service will remain in suspension mode till June 30 after which it will operate with 50 per cent capacity.
Earlier, railway service in the Valley had remained suspended for almost 11 months owing to the situation arising out of the first wave of Covid-19. The resumption of the service in February this year had brought cheer among travellers.
However, in April hundreds of passengers could be seen flouting the Covid-19 SOPs by not maintaining the social distance at the railway platforms.
The train in Kashmir had also remained suspended in 2019 for several months after the Government of India scrapped the special constitutional status of J&K. Frequent suspension of train service has caused railways’ losses worth crores of rupees and caused great hardships to the commuters.
As per railway officials, during the days prior to Covid-19, as many as 15 pairs of trains used to run from Banihal to Baramulla.