Jammu, Aug 12: The railway board on Wednesday approved the extension of the Sabarmati-Jammu Tawi Express till Katra, a move aimed at facilitating pilgrims and passengers travelling from western India, officials said.
The train will run via Jammu and halt at Shaheed Captain Tushar Mahajan station in Udhampur before reaching Shri Mata Vaishno Devi railway station at Katra, according to the Northern Railway’s Jammu division.
The extension is expected to benefit thousands of passengers from Gujarat, Rajasthan, Punjab and other parts of western India, who currently have to deboard at Jammu Tawi and take buses or other modes of transport to reach Katra, they added.
With the extended service, passengers will not have to change trains or make separate arrangements for onward travel to Katra, reducing travel time and additional expenses, they said.
The commencement date of the extended service will be notified separately after finalisation.
Passengers have been advised to check the IRCTC website, mobile application or station enquiry counters for reservation and the latest status of the train.
The Jammu division officials said the extension would further facilitate religious tourism and provide more convenient rail connectivity to the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi shrine.
