There is no doubt that Locomotives are represented as the cleaner alternative to trucks, Buses, coaches and play a vital role in movement system from cargo to local and cross-country destinations.
Whenever I travel from Mardan to Peshawar or in opposite direction towards Swat, in private or public transport, the Rail track of Mardan always attracts my attention. I cannot stop myself to discuss the importance of this track with the person beside me. The Track is so naturally built along the roadside and is already connected to Peshawar, Nowshera and Dargai-Malakand. There is a good possibility to be connected to Swabi and swat.

The Rail track is of great importance to Mardan in many regards. The benefits are:

1. Decrease heavy road traffic and congestion towards Peshawar and Swat

 

 2. Avoid the heavy loss of human lives due to road traffic accidents. These individuals are perfectly healthy.

 

3. Will play a vital role in transportation of local Goods and products towards the mainstream. Hence a better Market for Mardan.

4. The rail system allows more room and comfort. The Passengers can read or write, especially for elderly and female passengers.

5. Average speed can be doubled in comparison to the bus, thus offering attractive journey times, less labour cost for the passenger mile, and better usage of equipment.

6. Last but not the least that Rail is Environment friendly and is a better solution to reduce the pollution.

The biggest locomotive factory is situated only 5 km outside Mardan but surprisingly there is no train service to Mardan. Unfortunately during the last 60 years the train service has been destroyed. Who is responsible for this?

 

It’s the time for the common masses to come forward, form a group to put pressure on the local government and provincial governments. The people of Mardan definitely need a good train service, to live like the rest of the modern world.

Pa Mardan Maeen!

Gul Safi

 

The residents of the areas affected by the flood in 2006 have shown their anger by not voting for certain political parties and their candidates in the elections. Many bridges were destroyed by the devastating flood in Mardan. These have not been reconstructed in the last one and a half year. As a result the people as well as the cattle are facing enormous problems. In the cold weather one has to cross the river half submerged in water.

The locals decided not to vote those parties which were in power at the time of the flood and did not reconstruct the bridges. One such party was PML (Q) and the other was MMA. The new ANP led government is expected to come to the rescue of the people. A good learning point!