Jammu, 30-12-2023: Sh. Arun Gupta President CCI expressed sincere thanks and gratitude to Hon’ble Prime Minister of India Sh. Narendra Modi Ji for giving much-needed relief to the pilgrims of Mata Vaishno Devi by starting the second Vande Bharat Express from New Delhi to Holy town Katra from 30 December 2023 which will have a brief stoppage at Udhampur and Kathua. Sh. Arun Gupta also thanked Hon’ble Union Railway Minister Sh. Ashwini Vaishnaw, Hon’ble MOS in PMO Office Dr. Jatinder Singh and Hon’ble LG UT of J&K Sh. Manoj Sinha with whose efforts it has become possible to start this new train.
Sh. Arun Gupta said that this train will be 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 at least five minutes instead of two minutes.
Sh. Arun Gupta 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 Divisional Status although it was announced earlier but on the ground, nothing has been done in this regard, such urgent steps be taken to develop the infrastructure which is necessary for establishing a new Railway division.
Sh. Arun Gupta further pointed out that there is an 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 up to 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.
Sh. Arun Gupta also said that a few new trains and some existing ones be restricted up to Jammu Railway Station and the visitors be encouraged to visit this city of temples in order to give a boost to the economy of UT of J&K.
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