The conventional grudge of the people living in Jammu Division that governments in the past had discriminated badly as far as tourism sector is concerned holds good amount of truth because in the name of tourism what Jammu has got till date is meager and unsubstantial as except Mansar and Patnitop besides development of Mata Vaishno devi Shrine after the inception of the Shrine Board, this region has nothing to showcase as far as facilities provided by the successive governments were concerned.
The incumbent government at the centre has taken the lead by working persistently on Jammu Tawi Artificial Lake Project which now seems to be close to see the light of the day giving a hope that more could be achieved if the government changes its mindset with regard to this region in J&K UT. In this context, the newly carved out Jammu Division of the Indian Railways can do a lot in changing the perspective and creating edifice which can help boost tourism in an extraordinary manner.
As the Northern Railway has announced the extension of the train service with the panoramic Vistadome coach to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra from Srinagar, aimed at enhancing travel experience for the tourists and local commuters along the scenic Katra-Baramulla route, there are many other ways by which the Railways can promote tourism in Jammu Province.
After attaining the expertise in constructing rail network at difficult terrains across Jammu and Kashmir, it won’t be difficult for this department to create edifice exclusively for the tourism purpose in Jammu region especially by constructing a short distance rail route connecting Udhampur with Patnitop and Nathatop to operate slower trains akin to those chugging between Kalka and Shimla or the heritage train, which is running since decades in Darjeeling. Patnitop and Nathatop are blessed with natural bounties, splendid beauty, breathtaking weather and milky snow during winters.
As the region till date is accessible only through road travel, which often becomes hazardous during heavy snowfall, landslides or traffic jams therefore a rail link can provide a safe, comfortable and scenic alternative attracting more visitors throughout the year. Just imagine a special tourist train with transparent windows, comfortable seats and guided commentary chugging towards these tourist spots in Jammu region making a big difference from what Jammu has till date as far as facilities to reach these wonderlands just few miles away from Udhampur. Isn’t it true that such a facility will prove to be a game changer making this rail route a major attraction in itself for centuries to come. If realized in near future, this project will not only give fillip to the tourism but also generate employment besides benefitting local hotels, restaurants, small shops, taxi operators and local artisans. The eco-friendly construction methods can ensure minimum loss to environment, which is a must in this case.
