A major relief has arrived for travellers heading to Jammu and Kashmir for a pilgrimage to the shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi, as a direct train service from Jodhpur to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra has officially commenced. The railway administration has extended the route of the Sabarmati-Jammu Tawi Express all the way to Katra. With this operational change, passengers will no longer need to disembark at Jammu Tawi station and search for a connecting train. This facility will prove especially beneficial for families travelling alongside elderly relatives, women, and young children. Direct rail connectivity ensures that devotees can now reach the holy shrine in a much more convenient manner.
Schedule and Timings
According to Anurag Tripathi, the Divisional Railway Manager for North Western Railway in Jodhpur, train number 19223 Sabarmati BG-Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra Express will depart daily from Jodhpur at 7 PM and arrive in Katra the following evening at 6:55 PM. On the return journey, train number 19224 Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra-Sabarmati BG Express will start operating from October 20, leaving Katra every day at 4:50 AM and reaching Jodhpur the next morning at 4:40 AM. This arrangement allows passengers to plan their itineraries seamlessly without needing a separate transfer train to reach Katra.
Stops at Three New Stations
Alongside extending the route, the railway department has introduced stops at three new stations along the way. These newly added halts include Samba, Bari Brahmana, and Shaheed Captain Tushar Mahajan station. The inclusion of these stops will extend direct benefits to residents living in the surrounding localities, offering them enhanced rail access to various parts of the Jammu region. This decision ensures that commuters originating from Jodhpur as well as intermediate locations will experience smoother transit.
Boosting Religious Tourism
Every year, a massive number of pilgrims travel from Jodhpur to seek blessings at Mata Vaishno Devi. Providing a direct train to Katra spares travellers from the exhausting task of lugging baggage across platforms to switch trains. This convenience is particularly valuable for senior citizens and parents travelling with small infants. Furthermore, establishing a stronger and more direct railway link between Jodhpur and Jammu and Kashmir is expected to give a notable boost to religious tourism in the region, making the entire pilgrimage significantly more comfortable.
