Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 30: The Jammu Chamber of Commerce and Industries president, Arun Gupta expressed sincere gratitude to Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi for giving much needed relief to the pilgrims of Mata Vaishno Devi by starting the second Vande Bharat Express from New Delhi to Holy township of Katra from December 30, 2023 which will have brief stoppage at Udhampur and Kathua.
Arun Gupta also thanked Union Railway Minister, Ashwini Vaishnaw, MoS in PMO Office Dr Jitender Singh and LG UT of J&K Manoj Sinha with whose efforts it has become possible to start this new train.
Gupta said that this train will a big relief to the business community besides the pilgrims of Mata Vaishno Devi and the general passengers. He also said that Jammu Railway Station being the most congested station, the stoppage time for Vande Bharat trains should be atleast five minutes instead of two minutes.
JCCI chief further said that Jammu is a major hub for railway operations for interstate and intrastate transportation. There is ample need to upgrade the Jammu Railway Station by giving it the Divisional Status although it has been announced earlier but on ground nothing has been done in this regard, as such urgent steps be taken to develop the infrastructure which is necessary for establishing a new Railway Division.
Gupta pointed out that there is urgent need to establish a rail engine workshop between Jammu and Kathua as at present the nearest rail engine workshop is at Patiala which is far away from Jammu. Moreover, the rail network is extended upto Baramulla in Kashmir Valley which is more than 300 KM from Jammu. The present rail engine workshop at Patiala shall prove to be insufficient to meet the requirement of repairs as the number of rail engines has increased manifold.
He said that the few new trains and some existing ones be restricted upto Jammu Railway Station and the visitors be encouraged to visit this city of temples in order to give boost to the economy of UT of J&K.
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