*Shopping outlets, restaurants, Wi-Fi enabled lounges planned
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, June 5: In order to facilitate the up-gradation of two key railway stations of Jammu and Kashmir to the international standards as per the decision of the Union Cabinet, the Government will shortly approach the Ferozpur Division of Northern Railways to ascertain the impediments, which are required to be cleared by different agencies of the State.
This was decided in the maiden meeting of Standing Committee headed by Financial Commissioner, Planning and Development Department, which was constituted on April 1, 2016 on the requests of the Union Railways Ministry.
The Standing Committee comprising Administrative Secretaries of key departments, Divisional Commissioner Jammu and Deputy Commissioners of Jammu and Udhampur districts was constituted to facilitate issuance of the clearances like mutation of land, change of land use, NOCs from local bodies etc in a time-bound manner for re-development of Jammu Tawi and Udhampur Railway Stations to the international standards.
However, the Standing Committee remained only on papers and the same was highlighted exclusively by EXCELSIOR in its edition dated May 15, 2016. Through this report, it was brought to the fore that even majority of the members of the Committee were not aware of its constitution and the objectives behind the same.
Following this, Financial Commissioner, Planning and Development Department fixed the date of meeting and the same was held yesterday through video-conferencing. In the meeting, it was revealed that whatever land required by the Railways for up-gradation of Jammu and Udhampur Stations has been handed over to the concerned authorities and necessary entries in the revenue record have also been made, sources informed.
In order to ensure that no hurdle crops up in up-gradation of both these stations, the Financial Commissioner, Planning and Development Department B B Vyas asked the Divisional Commissioner Jammu, Dr Pawan Kotwal to immediately approach the Ferozpur Division of Northern Railways and officer incharge of both these stations to ascertain the impediments/issues, which are required to be resolved at the earliest in the light of directions from the Union Railways Ministry.
“This committee is a facilitation mechanism and soon after ascertaining the issues and impediments from the Railway authorities we will convene 2nd meeting”, Mr Vyas said when contacted, adding “the Administrative Secretaries of several key departments have been made members of the Committee with the sole objective of facilitating issuance of clearances from one platform”.
The Jammu Tawi and Udhampur Railway Stations are among 400 stations across the country, which are being re-developed to the international standards. The decision in this regard was taken by the Union Capital in its meeting held in July 2015.
According to the sources, the revamped railway stations will have feature like business centres/shopping outlets, restaurants and Wi-Fi enabled waiting lounges. Refurbished railway stations will also have enough parking places and other facilities.
According to the sources, redevelopment of Jammu Tawi Railway Station is imperative as it still lags behind in proper upkeep, better crowd management and upgraded services. Similarly, much infrastructure is required to be created at Udhampur Railway Station as with the extension of train services up to Katra, there is sharp increase in number of passengers, which will further go up following establishment of link with the Kashmir valley after opening of Katra-Banihal section.
Divisional Commissioner, when contacted, said, “those issues which fall in my jurisdiction would be resolved immediately and those requiring the intervention of other departments would be placed before the Standing Committee”, adding “we will ensure that there is no delay in providing requisite clearances and No Objection Certificates to the railways as after all re-developed stations would provide better facilities to the passengers”.
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