Khewra Railway Station’s closure hinders salt transport
When the British developed the Khewra salt mines in 1872 – the oldest and second largest mines in the world – they also made plans to connect the mines to the main railway track.
In the following years, a track was laid down and a railway station was established in Khewra.
On Aug 15, 1887, a track from Chalisa Junction to the salt mines was opened, followed by a branch from Khewra to the neighbouring Dandot village on Aug 1, 1889.
With the establishment of the Khewra railway track, transportation from the mines was made easy and locals of the area now had a more convenient mode of travel.
For over a century, the historic Khewra Railway Station and nearby stations – including Garibwal, Haranpur and Chalisa – remained busy due to the salt mines, a plant of Imperial Chemical Industries set up in 1939 and coal mining.
But with the decline of Pakistan Railways in the 1990s, many railway stations were shut down across the country, including those in the Rawalpindi Division. Khewra Railway Station and its track were also deserted in the late 90s after the number of trains going there reduced.
The station has been completely non-operational for the last eight years. It is looked after by Station Master Khizer Hayat, who is actually posted in the nearby Gharibwal station but also has the additional responsibility of looking after the Khewra station.