Minister of Railways Shri Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu, flagged off 16031 Chennai Central Jammu Tawi Andaman Express Train from Jammu Tawi to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra (SVDK). This is the extension of the existing train from Jammu Tawi to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra(SVDK). The flagging off was done through remote control by organising a video conferencing by Rail Bhawan(New Delhi) and Jammu Tawi Railway Station. The other Dignitaries present at the function at New Delhi end included  Dr. Jitender Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) of Development of North Eastern Region, and MOS in Prime Minister’s Office, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Department of Atomic Energy and Department of Space, Shri Manoj Sinha, Union Minister of State for Railways, Dr. Nirmal Kumar Singh, Deputy Chief Minister and Minister for Power Development and Housing & Urban Development, Govt. of Jammu and Kashmir,  Shri A.K. Puthia General Manager, Northern Railway. At Jammu end, Member of Parliament Rajya Sabha Shri Shamsher Singh Manhas, Shri Sat Sharma, Member of Legislative Assembly, Jammu and Kashmir were among those present on the occasion.

In his address the Minister of Railways Shri Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu said that it is necessary to provide good transportation facilities to the places of pilgrimage from every part of the country. Indian Railway is making sincere efforts in providing best connectivity to the places of pilgrimage. He said that Ministry of Railway is committed to the development of Railway infrastructure in the state of Jammu and Kashmir. He said that a meeting of consultative committee attached with Ministry of Railway was organised at Srinagar recently. Shri Suresh Prabhu said that he will soon hold a meeting at Jammu to review the progress of various Railway Projects. Shri Suresh Prabhu reiterated that Hon’ble Prime Minister has always been emphasizing the need to give priority to the development activities in Jammu and Kashmir.  

In his address, Dr. Jitender Singh said that it is heartening to see that Indian Railways is paying a lot of attention to the development of the Railway Infrastructure in the state of Jammu and Kashmir. He complemented Indian Railways for meeting the demand of people of Katra for increased connectivity with rest of the Nation. He pointed out that Railway represents the culture of the country. He said that when the train services reached Katra, many people of the region saw a train for the first time in the life.

In his address Dr. Nirmal Singh appreciated the steps taken by Indian Railways to provide better connectivity to Katra from different parts of the country. He said that Hon’ble Prime Minister has been personally concerned about the Railway Projects in the Jammu and  Kashmir. He praised the Railway Minister Shri Suresh Prabhu for his dynamism and initiatives in improving the Railway services.

Shri A.K.Puthia in his welcome address outlined the progress of various Railway Projects being undertaken in Jammu and Kashmir.

Brief Backgrounder about trains services in Jammu and Kashmir and Katra :

·         It has been planned to extend 13 pairs of train services originating from various parts of the country upto Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra (SVDK)/Udhampur.  Out of these, 05 pairs have already been extended upto SVDK w.e.f. 01.09.2015 and 02.09.2015.

·         Extension of 16031/16032 Chennai-Jammu Tawi Andaman Express upto SVDK has been  flagged off today on 04.09.2015 by Minister of Railways from Rail Bhawan,

·         The schedule of this train is as follows:-

*Commercial stoppage at Udhampur

·         In the Railway Budget 2014-15, introduction of 07 pair of Mail/Express trains, 03 pair of Premium trains and 02 pair of DEMU trains have been announced out of which 09 pair of train services have already been introduced.  Remaining 03 pair of train services will be introduced as and when Rolling stocks are available.   

·         List of the trains announced in the Railway Budget 2014-15 which would serve the State of Jammu & Kashmir and status of implementation are as under:-

·         The 04 pairs of train services which were running as special trains on Baramulla-Banihal, Baramulla-Badgam and Badgam-Banihal section has been made run as regular service.  Now, Baramulla-Budgam-Banihal section is presently being served by 13 pairs of train services (Baramulla-Banihal section is being served by 04 pairs of train services, Baramulla-Badgam section is presently being served by 07 pairs of train services and Badgam-Banihal section is being served by 10 pairs of train services).

·         Apart from this, 24 pair of mail/express trains serving the state of Jammu & Kashmir have been permanently augmented by utilising 24 coaches during 2015-16. 

·         Presently, Jammu Tawi station is being served by 51 pairs of train services while Udhampur station is being served by 13 pairs of train services.

·         Besides, to clear extra rush of passengers during summer, festive seasons or in connection with various religious congregations, special trains are made run serving the state of Jammu & Kashmir from various destinations as per the volume of traffic as and when required.

• The list of 13 pairs of trains planned for extension upto SVDK/Udhampur and their status is as under:-

AKS/MKV/MN/rv