RailEnquiry

Jammu: Jammu Divisional Commissioner Pardeep Gupta today said state-of-the-art services should be made available to passengers for their convenience. He was reviewing facilities to be provided to passengers at Katra Railway Station, likely to be commissioned by March 2013.Taking stock of the services at a high level meeting convened here today, Gupta discussed various issues with officials which included shifting of the Katra bus stand and parking of vehicles.Divisional Railway Manager, Firozpur division, Northern Railway, Naresh Chand Goyal said the ground floor of the railway station would include current reservation, second class booking, inquiry section, pilgrim guide, tourist assistance, VIP lounge, cloak room, waiting hall, book stall, tea stall, toilet block for ladies and gents and a catering area.The first floor will have eight retiring rooms and a cafeteria.Goyal apprised the Divisional Commissioner about the status of progress on works at the railway station and assured him that it would be operational by March 2013. About 14 passenger trains would run between Udhampur and Katra.The Divisional Commissioner directed the Reasi Deputy Commissioner to ensure that no illegal construction or encroachment erupts near the railway station and construction should be executed strictly according to the Katra master plan.

He stressed upon the traffic authorities to prepare a decongestion plan for smooth regulation of traffic in Katra.

Issue of proper parking at the railway station, regular water and power supply and installation of signage on approach road were discussed during the meeting.

Divisional Railway Manager Naresh Chand Goyal; Jammu Deputy Commissioner Sanjeev Verma; Reasi Deputy Commissioner Nirmal Sharma; Jammu DIG, Traffic, Shakeel Beig; Tourism Director RS Mehta; Deputy Director, Information, Jammu, Jyoti Salathia; Deputy CEO, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, Rishpal Singh; SDPO, Katra, Rajinder Katoch and Town Planner Anil Raina were present in the meeting.