Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 29: Pawan Kumar Shastri, president, Jammu Yatri Bhawan Trust, in an appeal to Minister of Railways Suresh Prabu has urged him to keep his promise by running an additional train from holy township of Katra to Rishikesh in utranchal in view of the increasing rush of pilgrims to the holy place from the State.
Talking to reporters here, today Pawan Shastri said that the issue was taken up with Mr Prabu by the Yatri Bhawan Trust during his recent visit to Jammu and a memorandum was also submitted to him in this regard. The Minister in principle had agreed that Railways will run the additional train from Jammu to Rishikesh. He said as the number of pilgrims visiting the holy towns of Haridwar and Rishikesh for pilgrimage is increasing day by day and the Hemkunt Express running from Katra to Rishikesh can’t cater to the heavy rush of pilgrims as it is always packed to capacity hence the running of additional train becomes mandatory.
Shastri Ji who favored running of Gareeb Rath train from Jammu to Rishaikesh said the same should be started in the early next month in view of the Somavati Amasiya falling on February 8 besides in view of ongoing Aardh Kumbh festival which started on January 13 and will culminate on April 22.
He said as millions of devotees are going to take part in the Aardh Kumbh festival at Haridwar thousands of devotees from the State will be also visiting the holy city for pilgrimage during this period and they will be relieved of the problem if the extra train service is started from Jammu to Rishikesh.
The Yastri Bhawan president has also complimented Mr Prabhu and State BJP president and MLA Sat Sharma for resuming regular service of Hemkunt Express which was suspended twice a week in recent past adding to the problems of yatris from the State.
He said the issue was taken up by the Trust with Railway Ministry and BJP president and MLA Sat Sharma. Mr Sharma was asked to intervene in the matter as the cancellation of train twice a week has added to the problems of people of Jammu.
Mr Sharma took up the issue with concerned Ministry and the Railways restored the regular services of the train, he added.
Pawan Shastri also demanded that nine more bogies be added to Hemkunt Express which is running only 15 bogies at present and the electric engine of the train has capacity to run 24 bogies.
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