Title - Katra welcomes announcement of direct train

Katra:
Union Railway Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal announcement to start direct New Delhi-Katra AC Express for the Vaishno Devi shrine has been welcomed by the business community of holy town Katra. They said it would not only boost the local economy but provide employment to thousands of people.While presenting the Railway Budget, Bansal said the direct train to Katra would run six-day a week while the stretch connecting the holy town to Udhampur was expected to the commissioned by May-June.It has been announced that there will be 'yatra slips' to pilgrims travelling by rail at the time of booking of the ticket saving their time, while undertaking the pilgrimage. Railway has already announced that Jammu-Katra-Udhampur rail line will become operational by June. While the Katra station is almost ready, work on the Udhampur-Katra line is underway. Vaishno Devi Shrine is one of the main Hindu pilgrim destinations, is set to become accessible by rail.Local MLA Baldev Raj Sharma said he welcomed the move by the Union Minister, "It will allow more people to reach the holy town, without having to travel from Jammu by road."Rakesh Wazir, vice-president, Hotel and Restaurants Association, Katra, said an average of 25,000 passengers visit the town every day. “Commercial and real estate values on the station road have gone up five-to-six times during the last three years.” The railway budget has also approved railway line laying on Bilaspur-Manali-Leh, Jammu-Poonch via Aknoor.