Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, June 9: For the first time, a long distance 20 bogies train would directly reach from New Delhi to Katra, the base camp of holy cave shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi ji on June 11 as a prelude to start of much awaited regular train service to Katra, whose inauguration was scheduled to be made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a convenient date, most likely by the end of this month. June 23 is being considered as tentative date for inauguration.
Official sources told the Excelsior that the General Manager, Northern Railways would be leading a high level Railways staff of at least 250 officials from New Delhi to Katra in the first ever long distance trial run of the train, which would be carrying at least 20 bogies.
“All arrangements have been made for run of the first ever train on New Delhi-Katra route. Hopefully, the run would be successful, which would clear decks for opening of 25 kilometers Udhampur-Katra track by the end of this month, whose inauguration is scheduled to be made by the Prime Minister himself,’’ sources said.
This would be for the first time when a long distance train with about 20 bogies would be running on New Delhi-Katra track directly carrying senior Railway officials and staff, who would have halt enroute for inspection. From Katra also, the Railways officials would have another round of inspection on train trolley up to Udhampur to examine deficiencies pointed out by the Commissioner of Railways Safety (CRS), during his inspection of the newly built track in January end.
The Railways authorities assigned with the construction of Udhampur-Katra track have claimed that all deficiencies have been overcome and that 25 kilometers track was now ready for inauguration at anytime, sources said, adding the GM Northern Railways would submit detailed report to the Railways Ministry after the visit on the basis of which dates would be finalized for inauguration of national importance project.
Sources said that Modi, who had launched his election campaign by paying obeisance to Goddess Vaishno Devi on May 26 followed by holding his first election rally in border town of Hiranagar in Udhampur-Doda Lok Sabha seat, which the BJP won comprehensively defeating Congress bigwig Ghulam Nabi Azad, wanted to visit Vaishno Devi shrine at the earliest and simultaneously dedicate to nation the railway like to Katra, which would take thousands of pilgrims visiting daily to the holy cave directly to the base camp of the shrine.
Sources confirmed that all deficiencies pointed out by the CRS during his visit on Udhampur-Katra track in January ahead of proposed inauguration of the project by the then Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh on February 2 this year, had been rectified.
The CRS had pointed out some problems in alignment of 154 meters Steel Girder over river Jhajjar and T-1 tunnel. The minor problems, which led to delay in inauguration of project on February 2 after missing of several deadlines, have been overcome and the project is now safely ready for inauguration, sources said, adding that final touches were being given to the project pending formal inauguration.
The Udhampur-Katra railway track has missed several deadlines, the latest one being February 2 when even date, timing and venue of the inauguration of the project by Dr Manmohan Singh had been finalised. Dr Singh had visited Jammu and inaugurated the Indian Science Congress on February 1 but inauguration of railway project was deferred in the absence of clearance by the Commissioner Railways Safety.
On an average about 30,000 pilgrims visit Katra, the base camp of Mata Vaishno Devi ji shrine, daily. The number swells to 40,000 on weekends and vacations. Direct train to Katra, which at present runs up only to Jammu and Udhampur, would benefit the pilgrims, sources noted.
Udhampur-Katra section is 25 kilometers long and involves about 11 kilometers of tunneling, 9 major bridges and 29 minor bridges. The cost of the project was stated to be around Rs 1000 crores as it had overshot due to delay in completion of the project.
The tallest bridge on Udhampur-Katra section is 85 meters high (Bridge No. 20) and the longest tunnel is 3.15 kilometers.
Sources said if everything goes well, there was every possibility that Modi would undertake his first visit to Jammu by the end of this month to inaugurate Udhampur-Katra rail project and pay obeisance to Goddess Vaishno Devi ji. The Railways had already decided to run two direct trains from Kalikaji (Chandigarh) to Katra and New Delhi-Katra apart from extending some trains from Jammu and Udhampur to Katra initially. At the later stage, there is a proposal to link Katra with all parts of India for the benefit of Mata Vaishno Devi pilgrims.
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