Rising demand for travel to outside J&K
Nishikant Khajuria
JAMMU, May 9: Amid India-Pakistan military stand-off and increasing demand for travel from Jammu , the Northern Railway today operated four special trains from here to Delhi and other parts of the country.
Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on WhatsApp
While four special trains left Jammu and Udhampur to other parts today, another special train is scheduled to depart tomorrow morning.
Around six thousands stranded passengers have been so far accommodated in these special trains, which were operated from Jammu and Udhampur on instructions of Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, who also reviewed the arrangements for the same.
While sharing the details, Senior Divisional Commercial Manager, Northern Railway, Uchit Singhal informed that one special train (04612) with 12 unreserved and 12 reserved coaches left from Jammu to New Delhi around 10.45 AM on Friday while the second one, a 20-coach fully reserved Vande Bharat train, started at 12:45 PM from Udhampur to New Delhi via Jammu and Pathankot.
“The third special train (04620) to New Delhi, a 22-coach reserved train, departed from Jammu at 19:00 hrs in the evening,” he added.
While 1500 people were accommodated in train number 04612, two other trains (02460 and 04620) adjusted 1100 stranded passengers, each.
Another special train (04624) for Guwahati via Uttar Pradesh and Bihar left Jammu Station at 23:55 hrs. There are 19 unreserved general coaches, two sleeper and one AC coach in this train, which will pass through Pathankot, Saharanpur, Lucknow, Sultanpur, Jaunpur, Ghazipur, Chhapra, Baruni, Khagaria and Katihar before reaching Guwahati.
As the rush of those moving from Jammu continues, Uchit Singhal told the Excelsior that another special train (04622) will depart tomorrow morning at 11:05 hrs from Udhampur Station via Jammu, Karthua, Pathankot Cantt to Delhi.
Many people residing closer to border areas with Pakistan and more particularly the migrant workers here from other parts of the country, have been moving to safer places, leading to a rise in travel demand since escalation of tension and war like situation with the neighbouring country.
Pertinent to mention that that there were major attempts to attack Jammu with drones and missiles by Pakistan on Thursday and Friday while Jammu Airport is also closed for civil operations since May 7 following India’s precise attack hitting terror camps in Pakistan and PoJK.
Uchit Singh said that control rooms at different locations such as Jammu, Ambala, New Delhi are monitoring the situations continuously. “We are also observing the reservation pattern and passengers footfall at stations following which we are taking a call to introduce special trains,” he said, adding that they have already made adequate arrangements and have trains in reserve, allowing them to introduce the same promptly if needed.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
