Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, June 22: In a step forward towards inauguration of Udhampur-Katra railway line, which would take the train to base camp of holy cave shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi ji, Railways Minister Sadanand Gowda is meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) tomorrow to finalise date for start of the train service.
Modi, Gowda and Minister of State in PMO Dr Jitendra Singh would be inaugurating the train service to Katra, most likely by this month end.
Official sources told the Excelsior that Gowda after getting a detailed briefing from Northern Railways Headquarters that 25 kilometers train track from Udhampur to Katra was complete for inauguration would be meeting Modi in the PMO tomorrow to seek date for launch of the train service.
The Railways Ministry wants the train to Katra, which would benefit millions of Mata Vaishno Devi ji devotees, to be inaugurated by Modi, who had launched election campaign of the BJP for Parliamentary elections with the blessings of the Goddess on March 26 followed by a massive rally at Hiranagar in Udhampur-Doda Lok Sabha constituency, a seat the BJP won comprehensively.
Excelsior had exclusively reported earlier this month that Modi, Gowda and Singh would be dedicating Northern Railways prestigious project to the people by the end of this month.
Sources said the Railways Minister was likely to propose the dates of June 27 and 28 to the Prime Minister for inauguration of the train. However, a final date would be decided by Modi depending upon availability of time.
“In any case, the train is now set for inauguration any time in the next few days as the Northern Railways top brass, who had taken first ever long distance 20 bogies train from New Delhi to Katra on June 11, has given report to the Railways Minister that the track from Udhampur to Katra was ready for launch and that all deficiencies pointed out by the Commissioner of Railways Safety (CRS) during his two days inspection of the track on January 27 and 28 have been overcome,” sources said.
They added that Modi once again wanted to visit the holy cave shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi ji after becoming the Prime Minister. The inauguration of Udhampur-Katra railway line, constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 1050 crores, would coincide with the Prime Minister’s visit to Mata Vaishno Devi shrine.
Sources said the Railways Ministry wanted inauguration of Katra railway line before presentation of rail budget in the Parliament on July 9.
To begin with, Railways would introduce three direct trains to Katra including Katra-Kalka Express, Delhi Sarai Rohilla-Udhampur Express and Ahmedabad-Udhampur Express besides extending Jammu Mail and Samparak Kranti, both of which runs between Udhampur and Delhi from Udhampur to Katra.
A set of DMUs are proposed to be launched between Jammu and Pathankot to Katra. This would facilitate Vaishno Devi pilgrims boarding off at Jammu to reach directly to Katra, sources said.
In the later stage, there is a proposal with the Railways to link every State of the country with Katra by train to help pilgrims all over India to reach the base camp of the cave shrine directly.
Sources said there were three platforms at Katra railway station, which were enough to accommodate more than dozen long distance trains.
Sources said there are demands from several Railways zones for train services to Katra but the Railways would consider them slowly.
An estimated 10 million devotees visit the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine every year.
The line to Katra has seven tunnels and over 30 small and big bridges. Katra station has been completed with modern facilities, including tourist guide counter, cloak room, waiting hall, VIP lounge, escalators and lifts and parking space on either side, sources said.
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