Rail station fails to cater to huge rush, awaits expansion

Amit khajuria
Tribune News Service
Jammu, July 25

The overburdened Jammu Tawi railway station is awaiting expansion as the three platforms with 40 pairs of trains fail to cater to a huge rush of passengers.

Despite receiving funds 18 months ago, the railway authorities are yet to start the expansion work on the railway station.

The authorities have the plan and funds ready for the ‘second entry’ project worth Rs 200 crore to make the railway station bigger. As per the project, the railway station, which caters to more than 20,000 passengers daily, will have four more platforms.

The station will have another entry gate from the Narwal side, which will reduce the load on the main gate. It will have a bigger parking on the other side of the entry as well.

Latest equipment will also be installed at the Jammu Tawi railway station to provide more facilities to the passengers. All new platforms will be equipped with escalators, foot overbridges and subways. The washing lines will also be upgraded from three to five.

The station remains busy throughout the year due to continuous movement of defence personnel, Amarnath and Vaishno Devi pilgrims and tourists travelling to Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh. There has been a demand for more trains due to the non-availability of seats on trains.

“We cannot add more trains in Jammu as three platforms are insufficient. Trains can only be added after the expansion of the railway station,” said Chetan Taneja, Divisional Traffic Manager (DTM), Railways, Jammu-Pathankot range.

“The expansion plan is ready and funds have been approved, but the planning and feasibility check takes time. I hope the work will be started by end of this year,” the DTM said.

Rs 200-crore project 

• The authorities have the plan and funds ready for the ‘second entry’ project worth Rs 200 crore to make the railway station bigger. As per the project, the railway station, which caters to more than 20,000 passengers daily, will have four more platforms 
• Latest equipment will also be installed at the Jammu Tawi railway station to provide more facilities to the passengers. All new platforms will be equipped with escalators, foot overbridges and subways