Right from the entrance gate or using stairs from the Taxi stand point to enter , everywhere Jammu Railway Station is seen littered with used pouches, polythene bags , heaps of dust etc as also crowded with people and the core station remains in a virtual chaotic condition where most of the space on the platform is occupied by the waiting passengers squatting on the floor . Generally increasingly overcrowded and faintly lit , could this very important station really get developed on modern lines just like many model stations in the country are ? Perhaps , we are in for seeing this station re-developed on Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode as Railways Ministry has identified this Railway Station requiring improvement and expansion too. It is quite satisfying that the Railway Ministry is convinced about bringing this Railway Station under Station Redevelopment Scheme looking to the ever increasing number of trains and passengers which keep on increasing particularly during peak tourist season and during Shri Amarnath Yatra. It is not that this station was not clamouring for the process of undergoing massive development for many years and even plans were reportedly drawn for the purpose but for which of the reasons the project was not given a “go -ahead” is known to the then Railways authorities only. Automatic ladder provided in this station is just for the sake of “Darshan” only and hardly is seen in operation. The only restaurant at the station too is functioning just for the name sake with no facilities at all.
On the other hand, keeping this station insulated from the terror threats hardly needs any emphasis and strictly preventing it from being used for other unlawful activities like drugs ,narcotics and the like , on that count too, it is absolutely paramount to ensure a bare minimum number of people should be there on the platforms to facilitate better security arrangements. That all is indicative of the need to have such alternative arrangements made for the passengers to wait for the trains to board instead of using the station for that purpose. Another trend which needs to be discouraged is using the station as a substitute to temporary lodging and keeping squatting on the platform floors for hours together and even overnight.
On the other hand, while in early Eighties, barely three or four trains only were carrying passengers to and fro this station , their number kept increasing steadily and now nearly 20 weekly trains and 5 daily trains are running from New Delhi to Jammu and back alone and 169 trains in all currently pass through this station . Voices were undoubtedly raised in the Parliament about the need to redevelop the station and now it appears the matter to get clicked since the Parliamentary Panel has asked for chalking out time bound action plan so that modern and state -of -the art amenities are enjoyed by the passengers. Congestion free non conflicting entry /exit to the station premises , segregation of arrival / departure of passengers , adequate concourse without overcrowding , integration with other modes of transport system like bus and metro etc , international signage which are user friendly are the chief aims of the redevelopment scheme desired to be achieved. Techno economic feasibility studies are, therefore, expected to begin to start the process towards the desired end.
Since massive funds are required for providing better infrastructure at the Railway Stations, resorting to PPP mode is found as the appropriate way to give practical shape to all the re-developmental plans. Moreover, the Standing Committee on Railways of Lok Sabha has otherwise expressed dismay over no railway station in the country having been developed under this mode . Therefore, a time bound action plan is recommended by the said Committee to be chalked out and duly implemented. After all, why such an important Railway Station at Jammu should remain bereft of the reasonable better facilities on modern lines and getting into and getting off the trains and immediately thereafter should not be nightmarish but a pleasant experience for the passengers not to speak of still better ancillary facilities.
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