Jammu Railway Division

With the virtual inauguration of the Jammu Railway Division by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, it is clear that Jammu and Kashmir continues to be the top priority for the Central Government in terms of infrastructural development. Creation of the Jammu Railway Division ahead of the scheduled start of the rail services to Kashmir on the 26th January, the Republic Day is a milestone in the history of Jammu and Kashmir. Keeping in view the terrain and topography of the region it was difficult for the common masses to be connected with the rest of the nation. Though the train services from Jammu kept the people connected with the rest of the nation. It created a tremendous rush on the Jammu Railway Station in terms of the passenger demand. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has rightly said that while inaugurating the new division that Udhampur Srinagar Baramulla Railway Line (USBRL) will link Jammu and Kashmir with the nation in terms of better connectivity. We have already witnessed that the extension of the rail connectivity beyond the existing set up in Jammu and Kashmir has produced new marvels in railway engineering like the Chenab bridge which is the world’s largest railway arch bridge and Anji Khad bridge, the nation’s first cable-supported bridge.The new Jammu Railway Division will cater to the 742.1 km rail network comprising of Pathankot-Jammu-Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla,Bhogpur-Sirwa-Pathankot,Batala-Pathankot and Pathankot to Joginder Nagar sections. It will be a game changer in terms of connectivity and the train traffic management. It enables the people of Jammu and Kashmir to have better options in terms of train travel. This will lead to creation of new job creations not only for the local people but will enable the skilled people to serve the nation in the Jammu Railway Division. Definitely, this much needed initiative will have a tremendous impact on the tourism development in terms of better and sustainable tourist arrivals enabling the socio-economic development of Jammu and Kashmir. Moreover, the better rail traffic management with the creation of the Jammu Division will provide connectivity between Jammu and Kashmir regions leading to inter regional interaction with thrust on the business transactions. As the traffic movement usually remains suspended on the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway due to the severe winter season. It will minimise the business losses of the traders who are dependent on each other. If the initiative is monitored and managed with public welfare at the centre of the focus then it will help to bring the people of Jammu and Kashmir regions closer in terms of socio-economic relations paving the way for ending the regional biases that are often used by the vested interests to create the regional divide. Let us hope the New Year 2025 will usher in an era of comprehensive development of Jammu and Kashmir in all the areas that are demanding the attention of the policy makers. People of Jammu and Kashmir have faith in the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. His personal connect with the people in Jammu and Kashmir has always ignited new hopes among them. He has been able to carve a special place in the hearts of the people in Jammu and Kashmir by delivering on the commitments when it comes to infrastructural development and people centric initiatives. People in Jammu and Kashmir see a ray of hope in Prime Minister Modi. He has proved once again that by bringing the train to Srinagar he means business and is committed to end the distance between New Delhi and Jammu and Kashmir.