Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, July 28: Notwithstanding persistent demand from various quarters, the Railways Ministry has not fixed any timeframe for giving practical shape to its announcement regarding creation of Railway Division in Jammu, which is otherwise imperative for employment generation and improving the economy of Jammu.
Informed sources told EXCELSIOR that Chairman Railway Board in the month of February this year had announced that the Railways Ministry would create new Railway Division in Jammu after delinking the railway network in Jammu and Kashmir from the Ferozepur Division of the Northern Railway Zone.
“The creation of new Railway Division in Jammu was felt imperative in view of the expansion of the railway network in Jammu and Kashmir especially after the opening of Baramulla-Banihal section”, they said, adding “within months after the announcement about separate division even Udhampur-Katra railway line was thrown open. Moreover, the network would increase further following completion of work on Katra-Banihal section”.
It is pertinent to mention here that currently J&K falls under Ferozepur Division of the Northern Railway Zone and if Jammu becomes a division then it would be the first rail division in Jammu and Kashmir.
The announcement about creation of new Railway Division in J&K was widely hailed by cross section of society in the State because the same was linked with the opening of avenues for direct or indirect employment and promoting industrial development in the State.
“However, no further step has so far been initiated by the Railways Ministry in giving practical shape to the announcement”, sources regretted, adding “though the new Government at the Centre honors this announcement but it has not fixed any timeframe to implement this announcement”.
This stand of the Railways Ministry was also revealed in the Parliament recently when the Minister of State in the Ministry clearly stated that at present Indian Railways don’t have any plan to create any new division other than the ones with headquarters at Jammu, Gulbarga and Silchar. He, however, categorically stated that at present no timeframe has been fixed for operationalization of the divisions.
The latest announcement by the Railways Ministry has created resentment among the people of Jammu as this project has the potential to provide employment to many unemployed people especially the educated unemployed. Moreover, the project will immensely support Jammu economy and prove a strong instrument for its industrial development.
“The establishment of Jammu Railway Division at the earliest is also imperative as it would be only after its creation that extension of railway lines to other parts of Jammu and Kashmir would get required impetus”, sources said while disclosing that surveys for Baramulla-Kupwara and Katra-Doda have already been completed and unless vigorous follow-up action is not carried out these surveys would remain only on papers.
Meanwhile, efforts are underway to develop Katra Railway Station as model solar energy station to meet the energy requirement, sources said, adding Katra would be an environment-friendly railway station that inspires the use of solar energy.
The solar energy would be harnessed by utilizing roof top spaces of the railway station and open land either directly by the Railways Ministry or through Public Private Participation (PPP) mode, they said, adding “Railways Ministry is presently holding consultations with the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy Resources in this regard in order to immediately start work on this project of its own kind in the country”.
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