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The Indian Railways is set to inaugurate a new division, the Jammu Railway Division, marking a significant step towards enhanced connectivity in the Jammu and Kashmir region. This development, announced on Sunday and set to be officially inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday, will bring the total number of railway divisions across India to 69, spread across 17 zones. This is a momentous occasion, as the last new railway division, the Salem Railway Division, was formed in November 2007. The creation of the Jammu Railway Division underscores the government's commitment to improving infrastructure and fostering socio-economic growth in the region.
The new division encompasses a substantial area, spanning 742.1 kilometers. Its coverage includes critical rail sections: Pathankot-Jammu-Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla, Bhogpur Sirwal-Pathankot, Batala-Pathankot, and Pathankot-Joginder Nagar. These sections were previously under the Ferozepur division of the Northern Railway zone. This marks a historic milestone as it establishes the first rail division headquartered within Jammu and Kashmir. This geographical distribution highlights the strategic importance of the project, connecting significant urban centers and opening up previously underserved areas to improved transportation options. The expansion signifies a substantial investment in the region’s infrastructure.
The establishment of the Jammu Railway Division is projected to yield substantial benefits. The PMO emphasizes that this initiative fulfills a long-standing aspiration of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, improving their connectivity to other parts of India. Beyond improved connectivity, the formation of the division is expected to create numerous employment opportunities, further boosting the local economy. It is anticipated that the division will attract further investment, stimulate infrastructure development, and promote tourism, contributing to a significant overall improvement in the socio-economic conditions of the region. This positive impact is expected to ripple outwards, improving trade, commerce and overall quality of life.
The decision to create a separate division for the Jammu region was initially taken back in February 2014, although implementation was delayed. A committee was formed in 2019 to assess the feasibility of the project, demonstrating the careful planning and consideration that went into this significant undertaking. The establishment of the division will provide dedicated funding through an annual budget from the railway ministry. This dedicated funding stream ensures more effective project planning and execution, which may have been challenging under the umbrella of the Ferozepur division, the largest railway division with nearly 250 stations. It's important to note that railway zones and divisions are not defined by state boundaries; rather, they are based on operational and administrative requirements, ensuring efficiency and effectiveness of rail operations across the country. The Jammu division becomes the sixth division under the Northern Railways, joining Ambala, Delhi, Lucknow, Moradabad, and Ferozepur.
The creation of the Jammu Railway Division is not simply an infrastructure project; it's a catalyst for broader social and economic transformation. Improved connectivity reduces travel times, facilitates trade and commerce, and opens up new opportunities for education and healthcare. The potential for increased tourism is particularly significant, bringing revenue to the region and creating more jobs. The project also reflects a broader commitment to regional development, ensuring that the benefits of modernization and progress are shared equitably across all parts of India. The long-term impact of this decision extends far beyond the immediate improvements in transportation, creating a ripple effect of positive change across multiple sectors of the region’s economy and society. The inauguration of the Jammu Railway Division marks not just a new chapter for the railways, but also a new era of progress and prosperity for Jammu and Kashmir.
It is worth noting that the time taken from the initial decision in 2014 to the actual inauguration highlights the complexities involved in large-scale infrastructure projects. Such projects often require extensive planning, environmental impact assessments, land acquisition, and coordination with various stakeholders. The detailed feasibility study conducted in 2019 underscores the importance of meticulous planning before embarking on such a substantial undertaking. The final result, however, promises to be a significant contribution to the region's development, demonstrating the government's commitment to fostering economic growth and improving the quality of life for the people of Jammu and Kashmir. The project serves as a testament to the transformative potential of infrastructure development and the long-term benefits that can accrue from strategic investment in transportation networks.