Sir,
This refers to the editorial’Katra connectivity’(DE, September 8,2015). It is heartening to read that the Union Railway Ministry has taken the decision of extending 12 more trains from Jammu/ Udhampur to the holy town of Katra,the base camp for the pilgrimage of the world famous holy Vaishno Devi Shrine located in the pictursque Trikuta Hills in the Jammu division of our state .The extension of these trains is sure to attract more tourists to the world famous shrine and help in boosting tourist and employment opportunities in the region.But at the same time, provision of more DMUs should be ensured to cater to large number of travellers from and to Katra,Udhampur and Jammu.
Attention also needs to be focussed on the internal roads to Katra as most of them are in a bad state and are in need of urgent repair.The condition of Rehmbal -Thathi road joining Tikri-Katra road at Sundrani is extremely bad .It caters to a large population residing in villages such as Jib, Balnagar, Hartryan, Thathi,Barolla, Chang, Seen Brahmana, Sundrani, Chiryai etc but there are a large number of potholes along this jugular road of this region, which,besides making the journey of travellers tiring and unpleasant,cause great damage to the vehicles plying on it.At the same time,the Jammu – Katra railway track needs to be upgraded to double track in order to cater to the more trains which have either been pressed into service or are likely to be introduced in future. The Udhampur- Chakrakwalan road which connects Udhampur with Chakrakhwal Railway Station,too is in shambles causing a good deal of hardships to the local travellers and travellers of Garhi Rehmbal and other villages travelling on the DMU.This road too needs to be upgraded in view of increase of traffic due to Chakrakhwal being the only Railway Stop for DMU between Udhampur and Katra.
There is no doubt that with the completion of the Jammu-Banihal Railway track and full operationalization of the Jammu- Kashmir Railway track,the picture of Jammu and Kashmir will witness a seachange. More and more tourists will throng the tourist resorts of both Jammu and Kashmir divisions and enjoy the divine experience of journey by trains passing through tunnels in the midst of pristine and lushgreen beauty of nature and take with them the sweet and everlasting memories of their unforgettable visit to Kashmir, the paradise on the earth.
Yours truly,
Ashok Sharma,
Flat No 4,Housing Colony,
Udhampur.
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