As train service continued to remain suspended for the 92nd day on Monday, the Railway department has suffered a loss of over Rs 2.76 crore in Kashmir valley, where shutdown against scrapping of Article 370 and Article 35 A entered 14th week.
Official sources said not a single train operated in Kashmir valley for security reasons since August 5 for security reasons.
“We were running a number of trains since morning till late in the evening between Srinagar-Badgam in central Kashmir to Baramulla in north,” they said, adding that similarly trains were also operating between Badgam-Srinagar-Anantnag and Qazigund in south Kashmir to Banihal in Jammu region.
However, they said after receiving advisory from the divisional administration and police, all train runs were suspended, adding railway service will be resumed only after receiving green signal from the authorities.
They said the decision to suspend and resume train service is taking after considering the safety and security of the passengers besides railway staff and property. “In the past railway suffered damage to railway track and stations due to demonstrations and stone pelting in the valley,” they said.
Official source said due to suspension of trains the railway department has suffered a loss of over Rs 2.76 crore since August 5.
Train service has become very popular in the valley as it is very economical, safe and fast against other mode of transport available. Meanwhile, since August 5 public transport, including the buses of Road Transport Corporation (SRTC), also remained off the roads.