Jammu-Udhampur DMU likely to be back on track soon

Amit Khajuria

Tribune News service

Jammu, December 27

Following a massive public outcry, the Railways is considering the restoration of the diesel multiple unit (DMU) service on the Jammu-Udhampur route.

The Northern Railway had temporarily suspended the DMU service on the Pathankot-Jammu-Udhampur section from December 24 to March 5, 2019, which sparked a public outcry.

The suspension has affected hundreds of passengers, particularly government and private employees, travelling from Jammu to Udhampur and vice-versa daily.

The authorities claimed that the suspension was a part of large-scale cancellation of trains due to foggy weather conditions. However, the people claimed the train had been shifted to Prayagraj (erstwhile Allahabad) for facilitating the pilgrims visiting the ‘Mahakumbh’, scheduled from January 15to March 4, 2019.

Highly placed sources in the Northern Railway said due to public protest, the authorities were considering restoring the services soon.

“It was suspended as a part of mass cancellation of trains due to foggy weather conditions during the winter season, but it has been observed for the past three days that the people are facing problems due to the suspension of the DMU services on the Jammu-Udhampur route,” sources in the Ferozepur division said.

“The authorities are considering the restoration of the DMU on the route. We are waiting for the headquarters to issue a formal order in this regard,” the sources added.

Upset over the suspension of the DMU service, frequent travellers held a protest demonstration at the Udhampur railway station recently.

Pertinently, the DMU service on the Jammu-Udhampur route was the first train to the hilly district of Jammu region. It was inaugurated by then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on April 13, 2005.

Earlier, the DMU used to operate at least six times a day. Later, a single train was run on the Jammu-Udhampur-Pathankot route and vice-versa once a day from Monday to Friday. It used to depart from Udhampur at 8.15 am and reach Jammu at 9.30 am while its departure time from Jammu to Udhampur was 5.30 pm. There are six halts in between the route, which include Ramnagar, Manwal, Sangar, Bajalta and Jammu.