Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Nov 1: The Chamber of Tourism Trade and Industry Katra (CTTIK) has expressed deep concern over the hardships being faced by Mata Vaishnodevi pilgrims due to the lackluster approach of the Indian Railways in restoring the damaged railway network in the Jammu region.
In a statement issued today, the Chamber said that the railway infrastructure suffered extensive damage following continuous rains and water-logging in August, yet despite the passage of two months, the situation remains largely unresolved. Pilgrims who had made train reservations for September and October found their journeys abruptly cancelled by the railway authorities at the eleventh hour causing immense inconvenience and financial losses.
“Worryingly, the same trend is being observed for November bookings, leaving thousands of devotees uncertain about their travel plans. Adding to the distress special train permissions for yatri groups are reportedly not being considered, further complicating pilgrimage travel to the holy town of Katra,” the statement added.
CTTIK noted that the business community of Jammu division in general and Katra in particular continues to reel under multiple setbacks. The region’s hospitality and tourism sectors were already struggling since the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22 followed by Operation Sindoor and then the torrential rains in August. Now the disruption, cancellation and short termination of train services have added yet another blow to the fragile economic ecosystem.
It is pertinent to mention that over 80% of Vaishnodevi pilgrims travel by rail, making the restoration of train services crucial for both devotees and local stakeholders. The prolonged inaction is severely affecting not only the pilgrims but also the hotels, guest houses, traders, transporters, and ancillary businesses dependent on the pilgrimage economy.
CTTIK president Raj Kumar Padha raised serious concern over the plight of these businesses and the growing uncertainty surrounding the pilgrimage season. He urged the Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, Lt Governor Manoj Sinha, Member of Parliament Jugal Kishore Sharma and MLA Baldev Raj Sharma to intervene urgently and ensure that the restoration of the damaged railway network is taken up on a war footing.
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