English rendering of the Text of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s address at the inauguration of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra-Udhampur railway line
On one side the holy Amarnath Yatra is on in a very pious atmosphere. On the other hand, the holy month of Ramzan is on. And thirdly, today we are making an auspicious beginning of providing the facility to bring devotees from all over India to the holy shrine of Vaishno Devi. In a way there is a pious atmosphere all around and amidst this pious atmosphere this auspicious service is being initiated. I offer my best wishes to the crores devotees who come to the shrine of Vaishno Devi. This facility is not only for Jammu and Kashmir but is a gift to whole of India, it is dedicated to those crores of Indians who are eager to visit Jammu & Kashmir to offer prayers at Vaishno Devi. I am proud to dedicate this facility to these crores of Indians and offer them my best wishes. This railway facility is commencing today.
I had suggested the Railway Minister that this train facility from Delhi to Katra which would connect other places and in future bring devotees from different corners of the country too should be known as ‘Shri Shakti Express’ so that we may continuously feel that we are going to visit the Goddess Vaishno Devi. I would also like to thank ‘Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board’ and thank the honorable Governor as well who has made arrangements for issuing necessary i-cards from the railway station itself for the passengers. This technology has been arranged to ensure that passengers coming from any corner of the country do not have to waste their time. Suitable arrangements with proper guidance for their onward journey have been provided.
Whenever development takes place at a particular place, the people of other regions sometimes get worried about their future. Like, the Chief Minister just mentioned the concerns of the people of Jammu. I can say with my experience that there will be no impediments in the development of Jammu. Whenever there is increase in facilities, people utilize their extra available time to travel to other places too. So, I don’t think that someone coming to Katra will not visit Jammu. So, it is my faith and belief that the developmental journey of Jammu will now be of better quality. Katra will now be at centre stage and a part of Jammu and Kashmir’s development journey. You can imagine the pace at which Katra will develop in the next 10 years. It will become the centre of economic supremacy and a new contributor to the development of entire Jammu and Kashmir. When systems develop, infrastructure development is always at the centre of developmental activities. As soon as infrastructure develops, believe me services start developing around it. I was just told that the train is starting from today but small businessmen have already set up shops at the sides of stations and have started functioning because they know how to utilize and partner with development. So, this may not be considered as a mere another rail link or travelling facility. This in a way becomes the precursor of development. According to me, this initiative started by Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee of connecting Jammu and Kashmir by rail will be taken forward by us. In the coming days the travelling facility will be extended beyond Banihal and for this the government remains committed. Not only this, for the first time in India, the State and Centre have come together to start this new arrangement from today. This is a hybrid arrangement. A combination of rail and bus connectivity has been made. Now those who want to go to Srinagar, they will get a rail ticket from railway, and for the route from Katra to Banihal which is not connected by train, they will get a bus ticket from here. So, when a person gets down here he will get bus facility at Katra, when he reaches Banihal, there will be rail availability to reach Srinagar. Using the same ticket both rail and bus travel will be possible, this facility is being offered by the state and the railway together so that the passengers do not face any problem. In future as well, for the development of railways, the more developed partnership model between the state and center will bring more benefits.
I agree with the Chief Minister that the railway stations should not be old fashioned. Why shouldn’t the railway stations of important cities of India be better than the airports? I want to ensure people, not just the people of Jammu and Kashmir but the people of the entire country that with regards to the future development plans of the railways, the railway stations of metro cities and priority cities like Jammu will be made more comfortable and modernized than the airports. This is our dream and we will realize it and it is not a difficult task. It can become an economically viable project. In the past few days, I had elaborate discussions with my friends in the railways and have provided them a detailed format. Now it is a matter of time that you will see definite changes and even the private investors will be ready to invest in such projects because they are an economically viable and good projects. It will benefit all and be a win- win situation for all. We will definitely take this forward in the coming days. Today, when I am dedicating this rail service, I feel extremely happy. As of now, six pairs of trains will connect Katra to other states of India. This will be extended to more states. The three pairs of DMU trains running between Jammu and Udhampur are being extended to Katra from today.
The coming days will usher in a new chapter in the emergence of Jammu and Kashmir as a new force of development. This is a day that brings speed and energy to the development of Jammu and Kashmir. Today, I have been blessed with an opportunity to conduct two programs. One is this program of rail connectivity which will give speed to Jammu & Kashmir and the other, the inauguration of a Power Project in Uri which will give a developmental energy to the state. Jammu Kashmir’s development needs both speed and energy and both these programs are very important from this perspective.
I believe that the Himalayan states of India need a different kind of a development plan. The Himalayan range states have similar problems and also similar kind of opportunities. If a common model is developed for them then their problems can be sorted out soon. The Centre will have a clear vision too. The Centre will be capable of understanding the expectations of the States. We want to start this new sphere of development of Himalayan States and its benefit will be extended from Jammu Kashmir, to till North East, whichever state come under Himalayan Range will be benefitted and we are committed towards moving in that direction. Today, I have come to the state of Jammu and Kashmir at the feet of Goddess Mata Vaishno Devi. I came to seek her blessings when I started my election campaign and today again I am here to start another development journey with her blessings. Therefore, I am confident that the developmental journey of the country will be strengthened and we will take this journey forward with greater potential and capability.
In the tourism sector along with providing facilities to passengers, railways in a way is an environment friendly arrangement. In Jammu and Kashmir it becomes the focus of attraction for the entire world being an environment friendly transportation. Through this medium, we are giving impetus to an environment friendly transportation in Jammu Kashmir and this can be presented as a good example before the world. And in the Himalayan Ranges, as much development as we want to carry forward, will be deemed environment friendly development. We can emphasize the protection of the environment in the Himalayan Ranges along with the extension of facilities for the passengers. When I went to inaugurate the railway station and the scene that I saw was something that is rarely seen. One has to climb down from the high mountains to reach the railway station, so from a small hill one could see the entire railway station. One can witness what an elaborate arrangement it is. I instantly said that there can be a railway station in India too which can be converted into an entirely model Solar Power Railway Station. There are so many possibilities. The Chairman of Railway Board immediately agreed to take up this project under his supervision so that the complete railway station of Katra becomes a unique Railway Station. It becomes a part of the Environment Friendly Movement and there are lot of possibilities that we can work on. Whenever passengers arrive at this station they will be able to see where and how one can utilize solar power and get an inspiration from it. I have complete faith that railways will utilize every inch of space and make this station completely operational with solar power and also seek other ways of utilizing the energy in the coming days.
Jammu and Kashmir has faced lot of difficulties and challenges and every citizen of India aspires and it is also his responsibility that our Jammu and Kashmir becomes happy and prosperous. It is everyone’s wishes and everyone is responsible to fulfill this desire. This is applicable to all of us whether we are in power or not. It is our collective responsibility. The youth of this state should get employment and various opportunities for employment. They should get an opportunity to lead a new life. When I was at the Katra station, I asked some children travelling in the train as to how many of them have travelled in a train or how many are actually seeing a train for the first time? The first decade of 21st century is over and yet almost 80% children said that they were travelling in a train for the first time. It was exciting for those kids but for us it is something to dwell upon. How have we taken our development journey that after the turn of 21st century, the children living so close by to Katra, had a chance to see a train for the first time? It is our responsibility that people in the remotest corner of India are benefitted by the development initiatives. The facilities derived from development should be availed by the common man and should be accessible to the person sitting at the remotest corner. We are trying it and I have complete faith that the blessings that have been given by the people of the country will enable us to take this development journey forward for the betterment of the poorest of the poor citizen living at the extreme corners of the country. New avenues of development will be created so that there is a change in the quality of life of a common individual.
We will make efforts to develop arrangements in accordance with the expectations of the people. I want to convey this message to the people of Jammu and Kashmir that I want to carry forward the journey started by Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee and our aim is not motivated by political victory or defeat. Our aim is to win the hearts of people of Jammu and Kashmir and this is my priority too. I want to achieve this priority through development and welfare of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. We have complete faith that we will be able to fulfill this dream and that too at a fast pace. With these good intentions I dedicate this “Shri Shakti Express” to the nation, to the thousands of devotees coming to visit Mata Vaishno Devi’s shrine. This journey will play an important role in promoting tourism in the state of Jammu and Kashmir. It will strengthen the development of Jammu and Kashmir. With these best wishes, thank you very much!.
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Samir Sinha