Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology, Earth Sciences, and Minister of State in the PMO, Dr. Jitendra Singh, hailed the inauguration of the Jammu Railway Division on Monday, calling it a “historic milestone” for Indian Railways and the development of the region.
He noted that the new railway division would greatly benefit the rural areas of Kashmir, boosting connectivity and fostering regional progress.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony in Jammu, Dr. Singh reflected on the significance of the event. “Today is a historic day for Jammu and Kashmir, and for the history of Indian Railways. You must remember that the railway first arrived in J&K in 1972. It seems like destiny that it took over 50 years, but under the leadership of PM Modi, this dream, once considered impossible, has now become a reality.”
Rapid Development under PM Modi’s leadership
Dr. Singh highlighted the rapid development of railway infrastructure across India under Prime Minister Modi’s leadership, pointing out the electrification of 61,000 kilometres of railway tracks in the past decade.
He also acknowledged that regions like Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh, which had never seen train services, are now fully connected by double train tracks.
The Minister celebrated the introduction of the Vande Bharat Express trains in Jammu, saying, “The first Vande Bharat train ran from Varanasi to Delhi, and now we have two Vande Bharat trains operating between Katra and Jammu.”
Honouring Martyr Captain Tushar Mahajan
Dr. Singh also announced the renaming of the Udhampur railway station as Martyr Captain Tushar Mahajan Railway Station, in honour of the brave soldier. “For the first time in the history of India, we have named a railway station after a martyr. This is a proud moment for all of us,” he said, underscoring the deep significance of this tribute.
Prime Minister Modi Inaugurates Jammu Railway division
Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually inaugurated the newly established Jammu Railway Division on Monday, fulfilling a long-standing demand from the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
The new division, headquartered in Jammu, will improve the efficiency of train services in the northernmost part of India. It is set to manage several key rail routes, including the upcoming train services to Kashmir from Katra, with the final trial run scheduled for Tuesday.
The event was attended by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, and Member of Parliament Jugal Kishore Sharma, among others.
A New Era of Connectivity
The Jammu division will oversee the reorganisation of the Firozpur Division and manage key rail sections including Pathankot-Jammu-Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla (423 route km), Bhogpur-Sirwal-Pathankot (87.21 route km), Batala-Pathankot (68.17 route km), and Pathankot-Joginder Nagar (narrow gauge section, 163.72 route km), covering a total of 742.1 kilometres.
With this move, Indian Railways now operates 17 zones and 69 divisions across the country, continuing its mission to enhance rail connectivity and support regional development.
(With IANS input)
