Announced Rs 188 cr expansion of Jammu Tawi Railway Station yet to see ray of light

Jammu: Announced nearly three years back, the Jammu Tawi Railway Station expansion worth Rs 188 crores have yet to see a ray of light despite rush of trains have increased manifold over a period of years.
The Railway Board has already approved the plan for expansion of Jammu tawi Railway Station, which was included in the model railway stations of the country, three years ago in March, 2018.
“For expansion of the railway station, an amount of Rs 188 crore was also sanctioned for its upgradation but nothing concrete has been initiated yet in this direction,” an official said ruing that the expansion was limited merely to an announcement.
Recently, Northern Railway General Manager Ashutosh Gangal also visited to Jammu and assured modernization of the Railway Station.
“There are only three platforms since the first train arrived here around five decades ago,” said an official adding that recently, the announcement of GM has raised hopes of rejuvenation of Jammu Railway Station.
He further added that a new entrance to the station is to be built with the released amount, to be constructed on the route leading to the Indian Oil Depot and added, “in addition to this, six new platforms are also planned, underground tunnel to connect the old railway station but everything is visible in papers as nothing has appeared on ground so far.”
He further said that as per the proposal, the godown at the platform, which is presently being used to dump goods like essential commodities, cement, will also be shifted, but it is impossible unless the railway station is expanded.
“Once the expansion work will begin, new platforms will also come up at the station in view of which the godowns will be shifted elsewhere,” they added.
The first train arrived at Jammu railway station in 1970 and in that period, three platforms were built at the railway station with two washing lines, sources said and added, “now dozens of trains arrive and depart from Jammu Tawi Railway Station from parts of the country but the number of platforms are still the same, and are unable to cater rising rush of visitors every day.”
“During foggy days or rush of trains, the platforms remain jam-packed thus posing security threat,” said an official.
He added that presently, around 40 trains are operating from and to Jammu and other parts of the country.
Updated On 1/13/2021 10:46:30 AM