Internet Blockade Turns Online Train Time Table Obsolete greaterkashmir.com

In absence of internet connectivity in Kashmir, Northern Railway has been unable to keep the commuters abreast about the train timings in the Valley. The internet blockade has turned the online timetable of Kashmir train from Baramulla to Banihal obsolete. The Jammu and Kashmir administration had snapped the internet on all the platforms across Kashmir on August 5 a few hours before the Government of India announced its decision to abrogate the special status of the erstwhile State of Jammu and Kashmir and bifurcate it into two Union Territories, J&K, and Ladakh.

“With no internet access, train users are unable to check the daily train timings on the online National Train Information Enquiry System (NTIES). Hundreds of train users in Kashmir had downloaded the NTIES mobile application, which used to keep them updated with the local train timing. However, the internet shutdown is keeping people away from using this service,” a senior Railway official told Greater Kashmir. The official said that prior to August 5 Northern Railways in Kashmir had created many WhatsApp groups to keep people updated about train timings. “Ever since train service was resumed in Kashmir last month, our telephone helplines keep buzzing with calls from people to know about the train timings. Tech-savvy train commuters who earlier used to know train timings with just a click of a smartphone have to now wait for their calls to get through,” the official added.