BJP delegation urges Railway Minister to restore train halts
A BJP delegation from Jammu and Kashmir today called on Union Railway Minister Ashwani Vaishnav in the national capital and sought haltage of trains at Samba, Ghagwal, Hiranagar and Manwal stations keeping in view the strategic importance of these areas.
Led by Union Minister of State in Prime Minister’s Office Jitendra Singh, the delegation comprising Jammu MP Jugal Kishore Sharma and Samba MLA Surjeet Singh Slathia also sought expansion of the platform at Samba Railway Station and expeditious completion of the flyover at Gurah Slathia keeping in view the growing number of travellers and ensuring various basic amenities.
“In the memorandum, we have drawn the attention of the Union Railway Minister towards these issues which are long due,” Slathia said, adding that prior to the Covid pandemic, all the incoming and outgoing trains used to halt at the Samba and Ghagwal stations in view of large number of boarding and deboarding passengers.
However, this practice was stopped for unknown reasons, leaving the passengers of all the adjoining areas to suffer. The two stations are strategically very important, especially in view of the area being industrial hub of Jammu and Kashmir, he added.
Slathia, who is also the vice president of the BJP’s J&K unit, said the expansion of the platform at Samba is imperative to upgrade the facilities for the waiting passengers. Since the Railways have undertaken a massive upgradation initiative across the country, Samba area too needs added facilities on priority, he added.
