Have you ever heard or seen a train station without passengers? Let us show you a train station without passengers. The Kathari railway station in Ambedkar Nagar district has been without passengers for more than four years. No passengers arrive at this station, but the entire railway system works.
All necessary personnel, including the station superintendent, are also deployed here. Dozens of trains pass through here every day. If there is no one, it is just the passengers. The surprising thing is that assembly by-elections are being held in Kathari and this is also becoming an election issue.
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The coronavirus epidemic left Kathari railway station without passengers
Kathari railway station is adjacent to Kathari market, but Kathari station, once bustling with local commuters, is deserted today. The reason behind this is the Corona epidemic that occurred in the year 2019-2020. In fact, during the Corona epidemic, in the month of March 2020, when the lockdown was declared throughout the country, the operation of all trains in the country was stopped.
Even after the end of the lockdown, the operation of all trains returned to normal. But Kathari railway station was not affected by this. However, only one train stopped at this station, its name was Balamau Varanasi Passenger Train, which went to Mughalsarai. This train was the biggest and cheapest means of transportation for the people here.
The Kathari market area has a population of about 20,000.
Ambedkar Nagar Kathari Market is situated on the main road of Ayodhya Azamgarh Highway. Kathari Bazaar is located in Pratappur Chamurkha Gram Sabha area. Pratappur Chamurkha Gram Sabha is the largest gram sabha in Ambedkarnagar district. Before March 2020, train operation was the largest and cheapest way for people in Kathari region to travel anywhere, but since train operation was stopped here, local people are finding it difficult to travel to any place.
People have to travel only by road, which is more expensive than train. When discussing this issue with local traders of Kathari market, Rahul Agrahari and Rohit Singh, they said that due to the stopping of trains from Kathari, not only the traders have to face problems but also the entire Kathari community going to worship Ayodhya. Devotees in the area also face difficulties.
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Despite appeals to officials and leaders, the problem remains the same
Locals complained from every corner about the stopping of trains at Kathari station, but even today the problem remains the same. Local people, current and former MPs and MPs and the MLA have submitted requests to the railway officials regarding the stopping of trains at Kathari station.
Even after four years, one of the many trains, the Balamau Varanasi Passenger, that stopped here before the Corona pandemic, could not stop. Before, this track was unique and now it has not only been doubled but also electrified, but if nothing has happened in the last four years, it is the operation of the trains at the Kathari station.
