Nearly three years after the much-publicised signing of the MoU for developing a world-class Inter-Modal Station at Katra, the silence at the project site is deafening. For a town that hosts millions of pilgrims annually as the base for the revered Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine, this delay is not just unfortunate-it is deeply concerning. The IMS project, envisaged as a modern hub integrating road, rail, air, and local transit systems, is not a vanity undertaking. It is a strategic requirement born out of necessity. Katra already witnesses an enormous influx of pilgrims throughout the year, and this number continues to swell with every improvement in regional connectivity-be it the Delhi-Amritsar-Katra Expressway or expanding rail services. In the near future, the pressure on the town’s transport infrastructure will rise exponentially, and without planned interventions like the IMS, Katra risks descending into chaos.
The proposed IMS was to be the answer to this looming crisis. With facilities including a bus terminal, helipads, a yatra facilitation centre, a foot-over-bridge to the existing railway station, and robust commercial infrastructure, the station promised not only seamless travel for pilgrims but also a significant boost to local economic activity. It would have helped decongest city traffic, brought coherence to fragmented transit systems, and introduced world-class passenger amenities. However, the actual situation on the ground presents a different picture. Delays and procedural hurdles-particularly related to financial queries from the J&K Finance Department-have stalled progress. While due diligence is essential, endless back-and-forth cannot be an excuse for inaction. The gap between announcement and execution has become too wide, and with each passing month, the costs-social, economic and environmental-mount.
The administration must recognise that infrastructure delays in pilgrimage towns have cascading impacts. When infrastructure fails, safety, convenience, and civic order are compromised. The IMS is not an indulgence-it is an urgent infrastructural response to a growing demographic and city movement. NHLML and the UT Government must fast-track approvals, resolve queries, and award work immediately. Announcements are only the beginning; delivery is the real benchmark of governance. Katra deserves nothing less than timely, future-ready infrastructure.
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