A Momentous Occasion: Jitendra Singh Celebrates the Launch of Jammu Railway Division

Jammu, Jan 6 (NationPress) Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology, Earth Sciences, and MoS in the PMO, Dr Jitendra Singh, on Monday, recognized the launch of a pivotal chapter in Indian Railways in the Jammu division, dubbing it a momentous landmark that will greatly enhance the rural areas of Kashmir and aid in the overall progress of the region.

At the event held in Jammu, Dr Singh underscored the significance of the occasion. "Today is a momentous occasion for Jammu and Kashmir, and for the history of Indian Railways. It's worth noting that the railway first arrived in J&K in 1972. It seems almost fated that it took over 50 years, but under the direction of PM Modi, this dream, once deemed unattainable, has now materialized."

Dr Singh further pointed out the swift advancement of railway infrastructure under Prime Minister Modi’s guidance.

“Over the past decade, the growth of rail infrastructure has picked up pace, with approximately 61,000 kilometres of railway tracks electrified throughout India. Regions of India, such as Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh, had never before witnessed trains. However, now, under PM Modi's guidance, there are no areas in India lacking a double train track.”

He also discussed the introduction of the Vande Bharat trains in Jammu, stating, “The inaugural Vande Bharat train traveled from Varanasi to Delhi, and now we operate two Vande Bharat trains between Katra and Jammu.”

Dr Singh celebrated the renaming of Udhampur railway station to "Martyr Captain Tushar Mahajan Railway Station" to honor the fallen soldier.

"For the first time in India’s history, we have designated a railway station in the name of a martyr. This is a significant achievement for all of us. Nevertheless, it was a longstanding request from traders, businesspeople, and the tourism industry for a separate rail division in Jammu. The credit goes to PM Modi for realizing this aspiration. The emphasis on enhancing rail and road connectivity is commendable," he added.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the newly established Jammu railway division through a virtual platform on Monday, meeting a longstanding demand from the region’s populace. This initiative is expected to facilitate the effective management of train services in the northernmost part of India.

The inauguration precedes the eagerly awaited commencement of train services to Kashmir from Katra, with the final trial run scheduled for Tuesday. The event in Jammu was attended by Lt Governor Manoj Sinha, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, and Member of Parliament Jugal Kishore Sharma.

The newly created Jammu division will be headquartered in Jammu and will supervise a reorganization of the Firozpur Division. The new division’s jurisdiction encompasses several crucial sections, including Pathankot-Jammu-Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla (423 route km), Bhogpur-Sirwal-Pathankot (87.21 route km), Batala-Pathankot (68.17 route km), and Pathankot-Joginder Nagar (narrow gauge section, 163.72 route km), amounting to a total of 742.1 kilometers.

At present, Indian Railways manages 17 zones and 68 divisions nationwide.