K N Pandita
Recently, among his myriad public engagements in Jammu, Union Minister of State Dr Jitendra Singh also addressed a delegation of the senior members of the Jammu Chamber of Commerce. The delegation submitted a memorandum to him, which, according to knowledgeable sources, contained a list of demands focusing on the comprehensive development of the Jammu region in terms of infrastructural, industrial, commercial, transport, tourism and other sectors. The memorandum said that the ultimate aim was to improve the quality of life by taking big steps towards the destination of modernity.
Reacting to the memorandum and the demands, the Minister showed a positive approach and dealt at length with the issues at hand. He appreciated the positive role the Chamber played in lending support to all development schemes undertaken by the government either independently or in collaboration with public agencies. He said that he expected the citizenry to lend full cooperation to improving the image of Jammu and the entire region.
Cooperation and understanding between the people and the state organs is a key to balanced development. In the past, the Jammu region has suffered apathy either because the local political configuration was short of efficiency or the forces of discrimination were given a long rope instead of curbing their egocentricity.
However, how the Centre is handling the Jammu region’s problems today generates the hope that stereotypes will be replaced by vibrant initiatives for ushering in a new era of development and growth especially when the local leadership is fully cognizant of its rights, responsibilities and duties.
In the course of his address, the Minister said that one of the important items on his prioritized agendas was the idea of the Railways Ministry creating a new railways Division of J&K with its headquarters at Jammu. He added that though the Railway Ministry had accepted the proposal in principle, formal orders for raising the Jammu Division were still awaited.
Recently, the Daily Excelsior has brought out several write-ups emphasizing the need to upgrade the entire railway system in the UT, particularly in the Jammu region which has to be the epicentre of the Jammu Division Railway network. Keeping in mind the fast-growing commercial activity and respectively the faster movement of people and goods, the prestigious English daily of Jammu had marshalled many cogent reasons which, the Railways Ministry appears to have taken note of.
Now that the matter is almost at the final stage of making a decision, we would like to reiterate the rationale for raising the Jammu Division of Indian Railways to stimulate and expedite a decision in favour of the project.
The foremost rationale is that with the expansion of economic and business activity, easy and cheap transport mechanism becomes the priority. This necessitated the laying of the railway line from Jammu to Srinagar. Now that connectivity has been accomplished a world-class mountain railway line is going to become functional which will be passing over the world’s highest railway bridge in the Reasi district over the Chandrabhaga River. It is an engineering marvel for which Indian engineers and the local labour force deserve three cheers.
As of today, the railway line in Kashmir Valley terminates at Baramulla. However, as reported by media from time to time, the Railway Ministry has proposed extending the link to Uri, the last town close to LOC in the valley. This railway link will be of vital strategic importance to the movement of military and civilian populations as well as the transport of commercial consignments.
We think that besides the Baramulla – Uri link, the railways will also consider undertaking the Baramulla – Kupwara – (Lolab) -Trehgam link which will cater to the needs of the entire Sopor hinterland of Rafiabad, the famous apple growing area of Kashmir. Fortunately, this entire area is of plain surface and the expenditures of laying a railway track will not be too exorbitant.
As the work of digging two vital tunnels (Gagangir and Zoji La has been taken in hand, their completion in the next two years could catalyze the extension of the railway line from Srinagar to Ladakh. If it happens, and we are confident it will happen, the entire strategy of India’s northern border will change for the good. The economy of the entire sub-Himalayan region and the life standard of the people dwelling in these heights will be reshaped. In building this link, we shall be reciprocating adequately to the adventures of China that has built the rail link between Uruimchi and Lasah in Tibet.
Similarly, in the Jammu region, the Jammu – Rajouri-Poonch rail link is of crucial importance from security parameters also. This entire sector is located close to the LoC and is vulnerable to the nefarious designs of Pakistan. We need to keep our security forces and civilian population in a state of alert and quick movement Railway link in this area will bring a big relief to the people as freight charges of consumer goods will come down. Rail connectivity will open employment opportunities to millions of people in this backward region.
At the same time, a rail link should be established between Kathua -Bhadarwah and Udhampur. Pakistani terrorists are said to be using this route for infiltration into Kashmir. In recent months some terrorists have been neutralised in this area and some have disappeared in the dense forests.
Now, in this vision of future expansion of the Indian railways network in the sub-Himalayan region, we find that Jammu occupies the centrality. It means that Headquarters of Jammu Railway Division will have to be set up either by expanding, developing and streamlining the existing railway station or by building a new railway station upstream of the present railway station but with a very broad vision. It has to be an ultra-modern railway station that is expected to be built in the first half of the 21St century.
The contemplated Jammu Division Rail Head has to be a model station for the entire country. Remember this year that to date nearly 1.20 crore pilgrims visited the holy shrine of Mata Vaishnav Devi. In the next five years, the number of pilgrims is expected to cross 5 crore. Jammu railway station needs to be provided with such infrastructure as will cater to the needs of five crore pilgrims. The new railway station perched on the slopes of Western Shivalak hills will command a great scenic view of the entire Jammu city and its peripheries. It will have hanging gardens, lush green turf, cosy reclining benches and neat eateries all under the control of the railway authorities. No hawkers and vendors will be allowed and a parking lot and cab/bus stand will be carefully laid out and metalled. The visitor’s park will be handled by the administrative branch of the railways. The station will have escalators, trolleys and facilities almost like those available at airports.
The state transport department will have to strictly enforce passenger tariff regulations with impeccable honesty so that the pilgrims and non-pilgrims all carry the impression that they are at a unique place while on a pilgrimage.
Not only that, but the Railways Ministry will have also to focus on introducing a tramway service in the city of Jammu. Jammu city is crisscrossed by innumerable narrow lanes which are always congested for motor transport. The remedy is the tramway which needs comparatively less wide space to lay the tramway track and no demolition of shops and structures on both sides of the lanes will be needed. Lay the track for the tramway will also put an end to footpath encroachment and the menace of handcarts.
Finally, I have a suggestion about financing the entire project of a new headquarter for the Jammu Division and a new railway station in Jammu. I would suggest that the governing bodies of temples, shrines, Gurudwaras and Awqaf in the state jointly contribute towards raising richly artistic service structures around Railway Division Headquarters and new railway station in Jammu, which has earned the title of The City of Temples. The Jammu Railway Station, with unique panoramic view of the city of temples in the backdrop of Western Shivalak, should be given the historic-mythological name as Trikuta Railway Station.
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