Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, June 11: In a milestone, the Northern Railways today ran first ever long distance full train from New Delhi to Katra, the base camp of holy shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi Ji and declared 25 kilometers track between Udhampur and Katra fit for inauguration and running of the trains anytime now.
However, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was expected to declare Udhampur-Katra track open in last week of this month. The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) would announce the date for inauguration of the track soon, which would also coincide with Modi’s visit to Mata Vaishno Devi shrine.
After travelling on first ever long distance full train from New Delhi to Katra, Northern Railways General Manager Pradeep Kumar Aggarwal and DRM Railways NC Goel told the reporters that they had inspected entire track between Udhampur and Katra including the deficiencies pointed out by the Commissioner of Railways Safety (CRS) during his inspection of the track in last week of January this year and found the track ready for movements of the trains.
“It was a historic movement (bringing the first ever direct train from New Delhi to Katra). The Udhampur-Katra is a very prestigious project for the Northern Railways. Though it has taken a long time for completion finally the track was now ready for inauguration,” Aggarwal said.
Declining to give specific date for inauguration of the project, the GM Northern Railways, however, said all deficiencies mentioned by the CRS in his January report including alignment of Jhajjar bridge and T1 tunnel have been overcome and the 25 kilometers track between Udhampur and Katra was complete in all respects.
Official sources told the Excelsior that no further inspection of the track was now required by the CRS, which had completed the inspection and mentioned the deficiencies during his inspection of the track in last week of January when the track was scheduled to be inaugurated on February 2 by the then Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh. However, the inauguration was deferred at the last moment on the basis of the report of the CRS.
Sources said the special 20 bogies train left New Delhi for Katra last night carrying senior officers including the General Manager of Northern Railways and other officials and reached Udhampur at 9.15 am. From Udhampur, the Railways officials started inspection of the track and had a halt at all tunnel, bridges etc including Jhajjar bridge and T1 tunnel, where minor problems had cropped up leading to postponement of the inauguration of the track on February 2.
The team including the Railways engineers and experts had detailed examination of deficiencies pointed out by the CRS, which had been rectified over the period of 4 months, and declared the entire track including bridge and the tunnel fit for movement of all kind of trains.
Sources said the Railways officials didn’t declare date for inauguration of the prestigious project as the PMO was yet to confirm details of Modi’s visit as the Prime Minister had to inaugurate the project and dedicate it to the nation.
Sources added that the dates are being worked out by the PMO but most likely Udhampur-Katra rail project would be inaugurated by Modi in last week of June when the Prime Minister would also visit holy cave shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi ji and pay obeisance to the Goddess.
Modi had visited Mata Vaishno Devi shrine on March 26 before launching BJP’s election campaign from Hiranagar in Udhampur-Doda Lok Sabha seat, which the party won.
The Railways officials said the Udhampur-Katra project was of great national significance as it would take pilgrims of Mata Vaishno Devi ji shrine directly to Katra from various destinations of the country.
They said the Railways authorities planned to run direct buses from Railway Station, Katra to Ban Ganga for convenience of the pilgrims. Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board was likely to open three counters at the Railway Station for making biometrics cards of the pilgrims. This would help the pilgrims from different States to reach Katra directly, get themselves registered at the Station and proceed to Ban Ganga.
On an average about 30,000 pilgrims visit Katra, the base camp of Mata Vaishno Devi ji shrine, daily. The number swells to 40,000 on weekends and vacations. Direct train to Katra, which at present runs up only to Jammu and Udhampur, would benefit the pilgrims, sources noted.
Udhampur-Katra section is 25 kilometers long and involves about 11 kilometers of tunneling, 9 major bridges and 29 minor bridges. The cost of the project was stated to be around Rs 1000 crores as it had overshot due to delay in completion of the project.
The tallest bridge on Udhampur-Katra section is 85 meters high (Bridge No. 20) and the longest tunnel is 3.15 kilometers.
The Railways had already decided to run two direct trains from Kalikaji (Chandigarh) to Katra and New Delhi-Katra apart from extending some trains from Jammu and Udhampur to Katra initially. At the later stage, there is a proposal to link Katra with all parts of India for the benefit of Mata Vaishno Devi pilgrims.
The train carrying the senior officers and staff returned to New Delhi late this afternoon.
Follow our WhatsApp channel