O P Sharma
Jammu Tawi railway station is a major station for visitors, pilgrims and tourists arriving from all parts of the country. It is connected with all the major cities by rail links and many trains arrive and depart from here as well.
Located in the Winter Capital of the J&K State, Jammu, which is also known as City of Temples, this premier station was inaugurated on October 2 , 1975 (Gandhi Jayanti Day) by then Railway Minister T A Pai in presence of J&K Chief Minister Syed Mir Qasim, Dr. Karan Singh at a well attended function.
This Jammu station, code named as JAT, is well connected to all the major Indian cities and will be linked to the Kashmir valley. The Himsagar Express , second longest running train in terms of time and distance, goes from here to Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu in 70 hours. Presently, it has three platforms and seven tracks meant for the lakhs of passengers. Though it is one of the biggest railway station in Jammu and Kashmir but it lacks a number of facilities and services. A number of trains connect J&K State with the rest of the country and with passage of time more and more trains will originate, arrive and depart to meet the rush of passengers.
This 40-year young station is rendering good services but still lag behind in proper upkeep, better crowd management, upgraded services and some basic necessary amenities. The overall picture of cleanliness is still not up to the mark despite the swacch Bharat Abhiyan recently launched by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and promised by the Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu. At some places, garbage lies on the platforms due to insufficient number of dustbins and skeleton sanitary staff. There is need for more toilet facilities, especially for the ladies. Railway authorities must pay their foremost attention to this task of keeping this station always neat and clean as it presents the first impression to the pilgrims and tourists. There is no parking lots near the platforms as these exist at Railway Station, Hoogli-Kolkata for the facility of passengers. Though VVIPs cars are taken right up to the platform while the common men have to keep their vehicles in the highly paid parking place. Of course, adequate bandobast (arrangements) have to be put in place for ensuring security and safety of the travelling public.
The passengers have to climb up stairs, which is all the more difficult for elderly and disabled persons and so escalators like the ones installed at Railway Stations, Mumbai and New Delhi and few other metro cities. The reservation ticket booking centre needs much innovations and improvements for the convenience of the Aam Aadami . Long queues have to be cut to the minimum by improving the working at the booking windows.
It will be a good idea to install a number of Automatic Ticket Vending Machines(ATVMs) so that passengers get this efficient service as well. It is all the more essential in view of the heavy rush of passengers, especially during the peak season. The number of boards indicating arrival and departure of various trains must be prominently displayed in this Railway Station premises. Why not install a machine to extend the facility of PNR number inquiry about the status of the tickets or arrival and departure timings of various trains. This will add to the convenience and facility of the passengers and at the same time cope with the rush on the Inquiry Counter. The inquiry centre at the Railway Station must be equipped with modern gadgets to facilitate the passengers to know about the information desired by them. Do deploy more experienced and efficient staff to provide quick and regular services.
There are several stalls in the concourse and on the suburban platforms serving snacks, chips, bottled water and cold drinks. There are book stalls on the platforms selling newspapers and other reading material. Train timetables are also available at the book stalls. Restrooms at the platform must be spruced up for the passengers.
The modern railway station at Katra for pilgrims to the holy Vaishnodevi shrine, which was inaugurated by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi on July 4 last year, is an example and model for Jammu station to pick up.. The Jammu station has still not lost its importance and end-use because of its utility and services.
It may be noted that at Katra Railway station, the ground floor has escalators, lifts, current reservation, second class booking, train enquiry section, pilgrim guide, tourist assistance, VIP lounge, a fully air-conditioned hotel with a shopping lounge, multi-cuisine restaurant, cloak room, waiting hall, a book stall, tea stall, toilet blocks, and catering area. The first floor accommodates 8 retiring rooms and a cafeteria. A huge parking place has also been constructed to accommodate cars and passenger buses.
A 20-year Prospective Plan for Jammu Railway Station must be drawn up by the Railway authorities keeping in view the future needs and requirements. With the completion of the railway network to Kashmir valley, Rajouri- Poonch and Doda districts the expansion and modernization of this station is needed. There is scope for construction of more platforms and tracks with the doubling lining of Jalandar-Jammu route and many other future requirements.
This writer had interaction with a cross-section of passengers, stallwalas, shopkeepers and many others to know about the facilities and other aspects of Jammu Railway Station.
Ayiush Tripathi, a pilgrim to Vaishnodevi shrine express the opinion that at Jammu station there must be some efficient system at booking counters, transport arrangements and better order on the platforms. He, however pleaded for keeping the platform neat and clean.
Shruti Jain, a tourist from Maharashtra, advocated that Jammu Railway Station should be upgraded as a model and Bullet Trains should be introduced at least between Delhi and Jammu. She also demanded various tourists circuits in this State with un-matching natural charms, famous pilgrim places and heritage sites.
Arun Gupta, a Jammuite at the platform lamented that Jammu Railway Station is losing its importance and adversely affecting business activities.
Abhinav Rathore stressed that the entire Jammu Railway Station complex , should be developed as a model centre with presentable looks having all facilities and efficient services by the Railway staff. Stringent steps should be taken for safety as also all sorts of cheating, thefts and over-charging by shopkeepers and transporters, he emphasised .
A University student Poonam Malhotra, opined that work at reservation counters need to be streamlined and made more efficient . This service for the common travelers is of utmost importance next to cleanliness, basic amenities fair dealings, safety and due courtesy.
There existed an old station near Bikram Chowk in the city, which catered to the only 43 km rail-link between Jammu-Sialkot prior to 1947, but abandoned after Partition and Sialkot is now in Pakistan,. The old Jammu station was built in around 1897 but was abandoned in 1947 and entire Jammu and Kashmir went out of the railway map of India. The railway link between this State and rest of the country was at Pathankot (Punjab) till Jammu Station came up when the Indian Railways laid the Pathankot – Jammu Broad Gauge line.
Ashwani Kumar Station Master assured of proper up-keep, order and efficient services at this important station. He talked of the fast growing traveling public and efforts by all the Railways workers to build infrastructure and provide all sorts of facilities for the convenience to the travelling public.
Answering a question, he said the complaints are attended to promptly and suggestions taken note of for the ongoing process of bettering the Rail services comfortable, safe and speedy.
The Jammu Railway Station that is now completing 40 years of service has made much progress but it has still miles to go in serving better the travelling public. It has to meet the challenge of making available best possible services across the country.
(Starline Syndicate Service)
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