Tag Archives: Jammu

Vande Bharat likely to be extended to Jammu

 

The Ministry of Railways is considering extending the Amritsar-Delhi Vande Bharat Express train to Jammu, following the decision to establish a separate Jammu railway division. Sources indicate that an official announcement regarding the extension could be made on January 26. The move comes over a year after the train was inaugurated, offering improved connectivity between Amritsar and Delhi.

With the creation of the Jammu division, approximately 742 km of the Ferozepur division, including key routes such as Pathankot-Jammu-Udhampur and Batala-Pathankot, will come under its jurisdiction. This restructuring will significantly reduce the area managed by the Ferozepur division, paving the way for better administrative efficiency.

The Amritsar-Delhi Vande Bharat Express currently has a seating capacity of 530, divided between the chair car and executive class. The eight-coach train, known for its advanced features and reduced travel time of 5.30 hours, will also undergo an expansion in coaches to accommodate more passengers. Running six days a week, the train halts at major stations like Jalandhar, Ludhiana, and Ambala.

A “Make in India” initiative, the Vande Bharat Express operates without traditional locomotives, featuring advanced technology that converts electric power into mechanical energy. This modern system ensures efficient and sustainable operations, solidifying its status as a flagship offering of Indian Railways.

Railways start daily Katra Jammu Mail from Prayagraj to Katra

The North Central Railway has introduced a new daily direct train service from Subedarganj station in Prayagraj to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra in Jammu and Kashmir, fulfilling a long-standing request from devotees. The service began on Thursday, and according to officials, it will provide much-needed convenience for pilgrims traveling to the holy shrine.

Named the Katra Jammu Mail, the train will depart from Subedarganj station in Prayagraj every day at 10:35 AM and arrive at Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra at 9:15 AM the next day. On its journey, the train will pass through multiple key cities including Fatehpur, Govindpuri, Tundla, Aligarh, Chipiyana Buzurg, Delhi, Sabzi Mandi, Narela, Sonipat, Ganaur, Samalkha, Kurukshetra, and Ambala Cantt.
On the return trip, the train will leave from Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra at 3:20 PM daily, reaching Subedarganj at 12:35 PM the following day.

Praveen Patel, Member of Parliament for Phulpur in Prayagraj, expressed his gratitude for the new service, calling it an “auspicious day” for the people of Prayagraj. He highlighted how the new direct service eliminates the need for passengers to transit through Delhi, significantly reducing travel difficulties. Patel added that this development will benefit not just the residents of Prayagraj but also devotees from surrounding districts who can now travel directly to Katra for their pilgrimage.

Malaysia Airlines enhances Kuala Lumpur-Amritsar frequency

In a boost to international connectivity of Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport, Malaysia Airlines has increased its flight frequency between Kuala Lumpur from four weekly flights to daily services, since August 1.

Sameep Singh Gumtala, Global Convener, FlyAmritsar Initiative, and Yogesh Kamra, Convener for India, have lauded the airlines move. “The increased flights by Malaysia Airlines, along with the existing four weekly flights by Air Asia X and three weekly flights by Batik Air, have significantly boosted seat capacity between Kuala Lumpur and Amritsar. In addition to travellers from Punjab, these 28 weekly flights will also cater to passengers from neighbouring states such as Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Haryana,” said Gumtala.

IndiGo to connect Kolkata with Srinagar & Jammu from April with direct flights

Low-cost carrier IndiGo has said it will operate direct flights from Kolkata to Srinagar and Jammu, as a part of its new domestic route connections in the upcoming summer schedule.

The direct flights between Kolkata-Srinagar and Kolkata-Jammu will commence from April 10 and April 21, respectively, the airline said in a statement.

While the airline will operate direct flights on the Kolkata-Srinagar-Kolkata sector daily, the Kolkata-Jammu-Kolkata route will have direct flights on the first, third and fifth Sundays, it said.

In addition, IndiGo also announced a new connecting flight between Kolkata and Jammu via Srinagar from April 10. It will be a daily service, the statement said.

Commencing March 31, it will be operating direct flights between Ahmedabad-Rajkot, Ahmedabad-Aurangabad, Bhopal-Lucknow and Indore-Varanasi, the airline said.

“We are confident that these routes will not only enhance access and travel experiences, but also bolster economic ties across various states,” Vinay Malhotra, Head of Global Sales, said.

PM unveils ambitious transportation projects in Jammu worth INR 32,000cr

In a transformative move aimed at bolstering infrastructure and connectivity, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated a series of ambitious development projects in Jammu on February 20. The multi-faceted initiatives, collectively valued at over INR 32,000 crore, encompass key sectors such as railway, aviation, and road.

A standout moment of the event was the laying of the foundation stone for the new state-of-the-art terminal building at Jammu Airport. Spanning an expansive 40,000 square meters, the terminal promises to redefine air travel in the region. Boasting a capacity to accommodate up to 2000 passengers during peak hours, its environmentally friendly design aligns with broader sustainability goals.

The significance of this development extends beyond enhanced air connectivity. The new terminal is poised to play a pivotal role in catalyzing tourism and trade in the region, further contributing to economic growth. It also aims to showcase the rich local culture through thoughtful design elements.

The comprehensive approach of the government towards development is evident in the wide-ranging initiatives launched during the event. Encompassing health, education, rail, road, aviation, petroleum, and civic infrastructure, this holistic strategy underscores a commitment to overall progress and welfare.

Prime Minister Modi’s visit marks a substantial investment in the future of Jammu, promising not only modern infrastructure but also cultural representation and environmental responsibility. As the projects unfold, they are expected to uplift the standard of living and quality of life for the residents of the region.

India’s longest rail tunnel opens on Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramula Rail Link in Jammu

India’s longest rail tunnel has opened in Jammu on the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramula Rail Link.

“Prime Minister Modi was present in Jammu and he virtually flagged off two electrified trains simultaneously — one from Srinagar to Sangaldan in the down direction and the other from Sangaldan to Srinagar in the up direction,” a railway official said.

He added that the PM also inaugurated the 48.1-km-long Banihal-Khari-Sumber-Sangaldan section. “This longest tunnel, which is 12.77-km long and known as T-50, falls between the Khari-Sumber section,” the official said.
According to the Northern Railway (NR), trains can now run from Baramulla to Sangaldan via Banihal, which used to be the last or originating station earlier.

T-50 is supposed to be the most challenging of the 11 tunnels in the Banihal-Khari-Sumber-Sangadal section.
According to railway officials associated with the project, the tunnel work started around 2010 and it took almost 14 years to operationalise it.

All safety measures have been taken inside the tunnel to meet emergency situations. An escape tunnel has been constructed parallel to T-50 to evacuate passengers in case of any emergency,” an official said.

“At every 375 metres, a connecting passage between the escape tunnel and T-50 has been made so that the passengers can be brought to the escape tunnel and then, carried to their desired destinations in vehicles,” he added.
The official told PTI that in order to tackle a fire incident, water pipes have been laid on both sides of the tunnel with an opening valve provided at every 375 metres so that water can be sprayed on a train from both sides to douse the flames.
“Escape tunnels have been created for other bigger tunnels too,” he said.

According to NR officials, the opening up of the Banihal-Khari-Sumber-Sangaldan section has brought them a step closer to achieving the dream of running a train from the Kasmir valley in the north to Kanyakumari on the southern tip of the country.

“Earlier, eight diesel trains (four each from one side) were operating between Baramulla and Banihal. Today, Prime Minister Modi not only inaugurated the extension of the Banihal route to Sangaldan via Khari and Samber, but also flagged off the first electrified trains on the whole route from Baramulla to Sangaldan,” the official said.

Now, eight electrified trains have started running between Baramulla and Banihal and four of those have been extended to Sangaldan.

“The four other trains will also be extended up to Sangaldan after a couple of months,” the official added.
According to experts associated with the project, the first section of the USBRL — the Quazigund-Baramulla section — was operationalised by the government in 2009. In July 2013, the Banihal-Quazigund section, which included the operationalisation of the 11.2-km-long T-80 Pir Panjal tunnel, was opened.

“Once the complete USBRL opens in the coming months, passengers will enjoy infrastructural marvels, such as the Chenab bridge, the highest railway bridge in the world, and the Anji bridge, which is the first cable-stayed bridge of the Indian Railways,” an NR official said, adding that the total length of the USBRL is 272 km and the cost of the project is INR 41,119 crore.