A few suggestions for those who are establishing the Bhera Railway Heritage Museum, like Golra Sharif, Islamabad and Attock Khurd
At present, it may not be feasible for railway authorities to run trains between Malakwal – Miani – Hazurpur – Bhera, and back (30 km on each side ), due to economic constraints. At least they can convert the deserted railway station into the Railway Heritage Museum and recreational park, like Golara Sharif, Islamabad and Attock Khurd ( for details about these two, see Wikipedia ).
Bhera railway station was established circa 1881, but at present it is in a deplorable and pathetic condition: though it has plenty of land. I heard from the press that a railway heritage museum is being established at the site of the terminus railway station. It is suggested that the following maybe included :
- Recreational park, jogging track, swings for children. benches and tables, garbage bins, etc.
- A joy train ride for the children, even for a distance of a few kilometres.
- A small restaurant/tuck shop, maybe later converted into a food street.
- Landscaping of the area, plantation of quality trees and plants with consultation with the Horticulture Department.
- Reasonable washrooms and bathrooms, including their maintenance.
- Security arrangements. For maintenance of railway heritage museum, recreational park and security arrangements, authorities may have an entrance ticket of a small amount. More visitors to Bhera will economically benefit the locals: at least they may buy the specialities of Bhera, like Phanian, Warrian, Mathi, Mehndi, and Patisa.
On the motorway, it takes about two hours and fifteen minutes either from Lahore or Islamabad to reach Bhera. From the interchange, Bhera is just three kilometres away. People frequently visit the Sher Shah Suri Jama Mosque ( 1541 AD) and the Information Centre, within the mosque. The Railway Heritage Museum will be an added attraction for the visitors. The turntable is still present, many children may not have seen it before. For elderly people, nostalgic memories are attached to the historic railway station, particularly for the Hindus and the Sikhs, who left Bhera forever in 1947.
For tourists other places of interest in Bhera are old darwazas ( out of nine, six are left, not in good shape ), Darbar Hazrat Miran Shah Sahib ( circa : Hijri 1092, 1681AD ), old havelis, narrow and intricate lanes like Walled City Lahore, mosques, temples, gurdwara, banks of river Jhelum, boating, cycling, ….
The local administration may immediately remove all encroachments in the vicinity of the railway station, clean the area, carry out extensive tree plantation as the monsoon season has started, and install barbed wire or hedge so that animals are prevented from entering the area of the railway station.
I hope the railway authorities and the local administration of Bhera will consider my suggestions.
A few pictures of the abandoned Railway Station, Bhera are shared.
Zahid Mumtaz
Pictures of abandoned Bhera Railway Station (circa 1881). Zm
