Katra, once an insignificant hamlet at the foothill of the Shivalik Hill range was at best a tea-shop spot for passengers travelling from Jammu to Udhampur or Srinagar along the National Highway. But it has been blessed by the holy deity Mata Vaishno Devi, and is emerging as a sprawling township; amidst the hills but with connectivity to almost all capitals of Indian States. More than ten million pilgrims visit the holy cave each year. One can imagine the magnitude of humanity which the railways shall have to handle while carrying passengers to and fro the site of the holy cave. When the PM flagged off the first railway from Katra to Udhampur last week, he announced that six trains would run daily on Jammu- Katra line. But the Railway Minister has been more frugal by announcing that three more trains for Jammu would be introduced in addition to the six already announced. He also approved one additional DEMU train between Baramulla-Banihal taking total number of daily trains on only line in the Kashmir Valley to 3 (3 up and 3 down). Another significant announcement is of special pilgrim circuits including Devi Circuit to link pilgrim centres with all major State capitals and proposed launch of pilot project between New Delhi-Jammu Tawi sections for setting up Food Courts at major stations.
While Katra, the starting point for uphill pilgrimage is being connected with all major cities in the country through railways, the railway authorities are equally seized of the urgency of bringing to completion the Katra – Banihal sector of the railway connect with Kashmir valley. Railways Minister has made a commitment on the floor of the house that his ministry would see to it that this link is completed within time and that rail connectivity of Kashmir with the rest of India is established.
It is a matter of time. Once valley’s rail link becomes fully functional, it will have far reaching impact on the economy and life style of the people in the vast region of Pir Panchal range and the valley of Kashmir. Once that is done, the next stage for the Indian railways would be to carry rail connectivity to Leh, Lolab and Gurez in Kashmir region and to Poonch Rajouri and Shupian in Jammu region.
Trending Now
E-Paper
Follow our WhatsApp channel