CTTIK for speedy restoration and boosting train connectivity
04/12/2025
Katra , December 03 (KIP)-A delegation of the Chamber of Tourism, Trade and Industry Katra (CTTIK) headed by president Raj Kumar Padha ,vice president Susheel Dubey and secretary Atul Sharma today met Sh. Uchit Singal Sr. divisional commercial manager northern railways in his office chamber to highlight the pressing issues arising from the extended disruption of railway services in the Jammu Division.
During the meeting, the delegation submitted a detailed representation outlining the persistent hardships faced by pilgrims, tourism stakeholders, the business community and general commuters due to the continued suspension and irregular functioning of train operations.
CTTIK informed the Sr. DCM that the railway infrastructure suffered extensive damage following continuous rains and water-logging in august and yet even after the passage of three months , the situation remains largely unresolved. As a result pilgrims who had booked their travel for september, october and November faced abrupt cancellations by railway authorities, causing immense inconvenience, substantial financial losses and widespread uncertainty among thousands of devotees planning to visit the holy town of Katra.
Raj Kumar Padha emphasized that over 80% of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi pilgrims depend on train travel making the timely restoration of full services absolutely crucial. They further highlighted that special train permissions for yatri groups from gujarat and Maharashtra for the upcoming months of Jjanuary, february and march are reportedly not being considered thereby complicating travel arrangements for organized pilgrimage groups.
Atul Sharma drew attention to the fact that the business community across Jammu Division and especially Katra continues to reel under successive setbacks. The business and tourism sectors were already burdened by the Pahalgam terror attack of 22nd april followed by operation sindoor later the torrential rains of august and recently the red fort Delhi bomb blast and Naugam police station bomb blast. The ongoing disruption, delays, cancellations and short termination of trains have inflicted yet another severe blow to an already fragile tourism-driven economy threatening livelihoods across the region.
In its representation CTTIK urged Northern Railways to expedite all remaining repair and restoration works on a war footing and ensure the early resumption of full train services to Jammu and Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra.
Susheel Dubey proposed the promotion and expansion of national religious circuits by introducing additional train services to Katra. He strongly recommended launching daily Vande Bharat trains from major pilgrimage destinations such as Varanasi (Kashi), Mathura, Ayodhya, and Haridwar which would significantly boost pilgrimage movement and strengthen religious tourism links across India. CTTIK further requested that express trains connecting Katra with Jagannath Puri, Bodh Gaya, Rameshwaram, and Tirupati be examined to enhance pan-India religious tourism integration.
Highlighting the gravity of the situation CTTIK appealed for the urgent intervention of northern railways to restore normal rail operations and enhance connectivity in the broader interest of pilgrims, the business community and the regional economy.
Sh. Uchit Singhal patiently heard all the issues and suggestions submitted by the CTTIK delegation and assured them that necessary steps for the restoration work are already underway. He informed the delegation that most of the repair and restoration tasks have been completed and the remaining work will be finished in the coming days which will ensure smooth and uninterrupted train connectivity to Jammu and Katra. He also assured that all suggestions regarding enhanced connectivity and religious circuit promotion would be forwarded to higher authorities for further planning and consideration.