To facilitate the pilgrims, a new train service was flagged off today from Jammu to ply between City of Temples and the holy city of Haridwar.The weekly train service was flagged off at Jammu Railway Station by Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu and Minister of State in the PMO Jitendra Singh through video conferencing from Mumbai and New Delhi respectively while Speaker, Legislative Assembly Kavinder Gupta, MP Lok Sabha Jugal Kishore Sharma, and MP Rajya Sabha Shamsher Singh Manhas joined the flagging off ceremony from Jammu Railway Station.Today was the inaugural run of train from Jammu Tawi though the regular services will commence as per its set schedule from August 15 from Haridwar.The train bearing number 14606/14605 will depart from Haridwar at 5.10 PM every Monday to reach Jammu at 4 AM the next day, while in the return direction, the Jammu Haridwar Weekly Express will depart from Jammu at 10.10 PM every Sunday from August 21 to reach Haridwar at 10.25 AM the next day.Providing a new option, new link, more benefits to rail passengers, the new train will be essential in connecting the pilgrims directly between the two pilgrimage sites of Katra and Haridwar.Suresh Prabhu congratulating the administration and Jammuites said that he is glad to be part of the flagging off ceremony of the new express train.
He said that his ministry is committed to provide seamless rail connectivity across India and the new service will prove a great comfort to the residents and visitors to Jammu and Haridwar. He said that Jammu has great importance from the religious tourism point of view where pilgrims from across the nation visit throughout the year and thus the railway is committed to enhance its connectivity to the rest of the nation.Speaking at the event, Kavinder Gupta said that Jammu Tawi is one of the busiest railway stations in northern India and has come a long way since its establishment. Under the vibrant leadership of Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, there are bright prospects ahead for the growth and development of Jammu railway station. He added that funds have been sanctioned for upgradation of the station with improved infrastructure and modern amenities including escalators, lodging facilities for the travelers and soon the people of the state will be able to see these plans shaping up the station with all modern amenities.Addressing the gathering from Delhi through video conferencing, Dr Jitendra Singh said that most of the people in Indian depend largely on the railway facility and Government of India is committed to strengthen the railway network with this important destination.
He said that railways is the prime example of development along PMs ‘3S rule - Skill, Scale and Speed’ with it taking the rail connectivity to far reaches, providing services like Wi-Fi, e-catering to travelers and efficient growth plan. He added that every Indian especially youth should focus on skill, scale and speed, if India has to compete at global levels. With the launching of new service between Jammu and Haridwar, there will be great relief to the passengers who were constantly demanding to enhance the service.MP Jugal Kishore Sharma said that Haridwar has emerged as a significant pilgrimage site during the past some years and this train will abet in making the travel of people more comfortable and easier. He said that hopefully with its increasing success, we would be able to make this train a daily affair.Shamsher Sigh Manhas in his address said that this train fulfills a long pending demand of people as there is a heavy rush of pilgrims between two locations and the only train catering to this route was unable to meet the increasing demands. He added that this is yet another gift of the Central Government to the people .Member Legislative Council, Romesh Arora, DRM Ferozpur, Anuj Prakash, GM West Railway, G.C. Agarwal, AGM Northern Railway, Ved Pal, GM, SSP Railway, Rajinder Kumar Gupta, SDM South Sonu Pargal besides staff and prominent citizens were present on the occasion.