22 May, 2017

The DBN Weekly - 22nd May 2017Download

The Railway line in Jammu region was an extension of NWR from Suchetgarh of the Sialkot District to the Jammu city. The work on this Railway line commenced in October 1888 and the line was declared open for traffic on 13th March, 1890. It was about 17 mile in length and was purchased by the State Government from the Dharamarth Department for a sum of Rs.11,78,078. This link, however, was disrupted in 1947 as a result of division of the Country. Earlier in 1902, the Maharaja Pratap Singh got the survey done between via three different routes i.e. Abbottabad to Srinagar, Jammu to Srinagar via two different routes through Banihal for a Narrow Gauge Railway line and another survey for Electric Railway from Jammu to Srinagar via Banihal but the construction could not be started not only due to financial constraints but also due to formal sanction of the project from Government of India. The financial aspect could have been very much met with the exploration of Coal Fields in Ladda area, a distance of 30 miles from Tikri where at least 2,500,000 tons coal was available. After 1947, the first step to link Jammu with the rest of the Country was taken by providing strategic Rail connection with the extension of Jalandhar – Mukerian branch line to Pathankot. Work on the 44 km line was started in November 1949 and formally open to Rail traffic on 7th April, 1952. The real and serious efforts were made to bring Railway line deep into the State in 1969. Jammu was opened for goods traffic on 2nd October, 1972 and subsequently passenger traffic on 2nd December 1972 when first passenger carrying train Srinagar Express (Now Jehlum Express) was received ceremoniously at Jammu. Once again after a gap of 25 long years. With a view to provide an alternative and a reliable transportation system to Jammu.