Rail Vs Recreation | Baramulla protests proposed railway through historic playground

Baramulla, Mar 30: Resentment is brewing among the people of north Kashmir’s Baramulla town after the proposed railway line alignment was marked in Prof Showkat Ali Stadium, one of the oldest playgrounds in the town.

The historic Prof Showkat Ali Stadium in Khoja Bagh Baramulla always remains a one-stop destination for the administration, J&K Sports Council and other agencies including the security forces to organise the sports or cultural events of the district.

As per the revenue papers, the playground is the property of the Government Degree College Baramulla.

The playfield which is a multipurpose stadium for the people of Baramulla, remains abuzz with sports activities from dawn to dusk.

However, the marking of alignment by the railway authorities has taken everybody by surprise.

On Saturday, the Civil Society Baramulla and the Alumni Association of the GDC Baramulla convened a meeting to chalk out the strategy to oppose the move by the railway authorities to make way for the railway track from the ground.

In 2022, the Union Minister of Home Affairs, Amit Shah also addressed a large gathering of people from the same ground.

Notably, the proposed Baramulla-Uri railway line would pass through key locations in Baramulla town, Sheeri, Gantmulla, Boniyar, Limber, and Lagama villages before it touches Uri town.

The Baramulla-Uri railway has been already approved by the Centre and would serve as an extension of the under-construction Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project.

As per the alignment, the proposed railway track would bisect the college playground in the middle.

On Saturday, the Civil Society Baramulla and the Alumni Association of the GDC Baramulla convened a meeting and expressed their apprehensions about the proposed railway track.

The professors of Government Degree College Baramulla also attended the meeting and said that there was no communication from any quarter regarding the marking of the alignment of the railway track at the centre of the ground.

“No consent was taken from us for marking the alignment. But as the news spread, we approached the railway authorities for it. We were told that it was into consideration but nothing has been made final as of now. But demarcation of this historical ground for railway track will not be accepted,” the college professors said.

Besides the playground for outdoor sports activities, the government recently constructed an indoor sports stadium on the backside of the playfield.

“This playground has been a platform for players who are now playing at the national level. This ground has hosted national-level matches in the past,” said a retired professor Irshad Wani, a senior citizen of Baramulla.

Situated at the prime location alongside the Baramulla-Srinagar highway, this ground used to be the centre of attraction for people from all walks of life.

“Besides the college activities, it remains abuzz with other sports activities organised by local organisations and security agencies," he said.

The speakers during the meeting said that the playground which had its historical significance should be saved for future generations of the town.

“If the railway authorities go ahead with the proposal, it will hurt the academic ambience of the college,” the speakers said during the meeting.

The civil society has already met Deputy Commissioner (DC) Baramulla, Minga Sherpa, who has assured them that he would speak to the government and top railway authorities about the issue.

“The DC told the delegation that they will try to get alternate land for the railway track adjacent to the college ground,” a statement issued by the civil society said.