Historic Hindumalkote railway station in Rajasthan's Sri Ganganagar is less than a KM from Pakistan border; will it be converted into a railway museum?
Sri Ganganagar: A demand has been raised to convert the old and historic railway station in Hindumalkote village—located about 800 metrs India-Pakistan border within the Hindumalkote police station area of Sri Ganganagar district, Rajasthan—into a railway museum.
Bhimprakash Sharma, a former member of the Zonal Railway Users' Consultative Committee (ZRUCC) and an expert on railway matters, submitted a memorandum regarding this to Rajiv Datta, President of the Rajasthan State Wrestling Association. During Datta's visit to Hindumalkote village, Sharma apprised him that the old railway station remains in quite good condition. The main station building could be given an attractive look through repairs. Facilities such as a goods shed, an old railway signal system (albeit in a somewhat dilapidated state), and other structures are available at the site.
Old steam locomotives and railway coaches could be brought here
Sharma suggested bringing in and displaying old steam locomotives and railway coaches here. This would create a new attraction for tourists visiting the border area.
This route remained active for several years even after Partition
Hindumalkote is an ancient village. Before the Partition of India and Pakistan, trains used to run between New Delhi and Karachi via Bathinda and Hindumalkote. This route remained active for several years even after the Partition; the only difference was that trains arriving from Bathinda would stop at Hindumalkote station, where Pakistani locomotive pilots would take over to proceed further.
Old track still exists in front of the old railway station
Similarly, trains arriving from Pakistan would stop here, and Indian pilots would take them forward. The old track, which extends to the 'Zero Line' of the international border, still exists in front of the old railway station. An old railway signal cabin is also located there.
Hindumalkote was a significant trading hub
During the era of the Bikaner princely state, Hindumalkote was a significant trading hub. Its trade connections extended to Bahawalpur, Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar, and even Kabul and Kandahar in Afghanistan. The market was particularly renowned for its trade in gram (chickpeas). During British rule, this was one of the three railway routes connecting Delhi to Karachi.