MIANWALI:
A railway station built in 1891 at Mari Indus, the second major junction on the track after Kundian, is on the brink of ruin.
Bushes and trees have grown rampantly around the railway lines and historic buildings are falling apart due to lack of maintenance.
Speaking to The Express Tribune, a local resident, Ejaz Khan Jazi, said his ancestors had served at the station.
The railway station building has a strong structure like other buildings constructed during the British rule. There was also a workshop, a power house and a guest house.
However, the station appears like a haunted place because of lack of maintenance for the past six decades.
Jazi said the building was a cultural heritage site of the area and the railway department could release funds for keeping it functional after repair.
The land of the Mari Indus Railway Station is very valuable. It lies between the bank of the Indus river and the Kalabagh Road.
If the department had brought the land to commercial use, it could have earned millions of rupees per month and the money could have been spent on maintenance. However, no attention has been paid to this aspect.
Trains still depart for Lahore and Attock from the station and an office is also located on the dilapidated premises.
Hundreds of employees work under the supervision of the railway officials deputed in the area.
Another resident, Akram Niazi, claimed that nuts and bolts had been stolen from the railway line, putting at risk the safety of passengers.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 25th, 2024.
