Srinagar, Feb 28: The modernisation work at Jammu Tawi Railway Station is progressing rapidly and is expected to be completed by July 2025, officials confirmed on Friday. The project aims to upgrade infrastructure, enhance passenger amenities, and meet modern railway standards to cater to the growing transportation needs of the Jammu & Kashmir region.
Chief Public Relations Officer of Northern Railways, Himanshu Shekhar Upadhyay, told Rising Kashmir that the redevelopment plan for Jammu Tawi Railway Station includes a major expansion of facilities. “The yard remodelling work is nearly complete, and the non-interlocking work is expected to be finished by the end of July. Once these critical tasks are done, redevelopment will gain full momentum,” he said.
Key features of the modernization include the expansion of the station from three platforms to seven. The station will also adopt advanced ballastless track technology to ensure smoother and safer train operations. Additionally, two new 12-meter-wide foot-over bridges will be constructed to improve passenger movement, along with a 72-meter-wide air concourse connecting all seven platforms.
“A new second-entry station building, measuring 4,500 square meters, will be constructed on the Narwal side, while the existing 15,600 square meter main station building will be upgraded with modern amenities. Washable aprons will be installed on platforms for better hygiene, and outdated mechanical interlocking systems will be replaced with advanced electronic interlocking for enhanced safety,” he said.
While the modernization is expected to greatly enhance passenger experience, it has led to the cancellation and rescheduling of several major trains, affecting thousands of passengers, including pilgrims traveling to the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi shrine. Upadhyay assured that updates regarding train schedules and arrangements for affected passengers are being provided daily through the railway’s website. “We urge passengers to cooperate as these efforts are aimed at ensuring a smoother and more efficient travel experience in the long run,” he said.
Alongside the redevelopment of Jammu Tawi Railway Station, other ongoing projects in the region include a new 272 km track at an estimated cost of ₹41,159 crore. Four Amrit Stations—Budgam, Jammu Tawi, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra, and Udhampur—are also being developed at a cost of ₹292.5 crore, with new rail flyovers and under-bridges to improve connectivity.
Passenger amenities have also been significantly upgraded since 2014, with the addition of lifts, escalators, and WiFi at several stations. Two Vande Bharat trains are currently operational, connecting multiple districts with key stoppages across Jammu & Kashmir.
Earlier this year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Jammu Railway Division, marking a key step in linking the Kashmir Valley with the rest of the country through an extensive rail network.
