Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Aug 14: To make hassle free pilgrimage and improve the facilities for pilgrims, the Railways today flagged-off a new train service from City of Temples here to holy city of Haridwar in Uttaranchal. The weekly train service was simultaneously flagged-off by Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu from Mumbai and Union Minister in PMO with Independent Charge of North Eastern States, Dr Jitendra Singh through video conferencing from Railway Headquarters Baroda House, New Delhi respectively, while the Speaker State Assembly Kavinder Gupta, MP (LS) Jugal Kishore Sharma and MP (RS) Shamsher Singh Manhas formally flagged-off it from Jammu Railway Station.
Senior Railway Executives present at Baroda House include A.K. Puthia, General Manager, Northern Railway and other Principal Head of Departments. Ved Pal, Additional General Manager, Northern Railways Anuj Prakash, Divisional Railway Manager, Firozpur and other Branch officers of Firozpur Division were also present on the occasion at Railway Station here.
Consisting of one AC 2 Tier, Three AC 3 Tier, nine sleeper class, five general class & two second class cum luggage van coaches, the 14606/14605 Jammu Tawi -Haridwar- Jammu Tawi Weekly Express train will stop at Pathankot Cantt., Jalandhar Cantt., Ludhiana, Khanna, Sirhind, Rajpura, Ambala City, Ambala Cantt., Jagadhari & Saharanpur stations enroute in both the directions.
Speaking on the occasion, Railway Minister said that Indian Railways would continue its efforts to extend greater connectivity in the State. In keeping with its endeavor to provide greater facilities, the Railways had developed a Multi Functional Complex (MFC) introducing modern amenities; the work of development of a Mechanized Laundry at Jammu station will be completed soon.
While flagging-off the train from Baroda House ,New Delhi Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh said, that his personal presence at Railway Headquarters during the flagging – off ceremony was meant to convey a deep sense of gratitude on behalf of the people of Jammu for the manner in which, one after the other, the Ministry of Railways had positively responded to the needs and demands of the people of Jammu. He recalled that, less than three months ago, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had flagged-off the historic Kamakhya (Assam) to Katra (Vaishno Devi) train covering a distance of more than 2,000 Km and connecting the two destinations of religious pilgrimage.
The Union Minister also referred to the plan for setting up a new Railway Station at Kathua, expansion of Udhampur Railway Station and setting up of sitting benches and shades at Kathua, Udhampur and Ram Nagar Railway stations, for which he is also contributing from his MPLAD.
Expressing satisfaction over the progress in the construction of Railway Bridge at Reasi, he said, this part of the Railway link from Jammu to Kashmir will be an illustration for posterity.
Providing a new option, new link, more benefits to rail passengers, the new train will be essential in connecting the pilgrims directly between the two pilgrimage sites of Katra and Haridwar, said Kavinder Gupta.
MP Jugal Kishore Sharma said that Haridwar has emerged as a significant pilgrimage site during the past some years and this train will abet in making the travel of people more comfortable and easier. He said that hopefully with its increasing success, we would be able to make this train a daily affair.
Shamsher Sigh Manhas said that this train fulfills a long pending demand of people as there is a heavy rush of pilgrims between two locations and the only train catering to this route was unable to meet the increasing demand. He added that this is yet another gift of the Central Government to the people.
Member Legislative Council, Romesh Arora, DRM Ferozpur, Anuj Prakash, GM West Railway, G.C. Agarwal, AGM Northern Railway, Ved Pal, GM, SSP Railway, Rajinder Kumar Gupta, SDM South Sonu Pargal besides staff and prominent citizens were present on the occasion.
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