Vaishno Devi Vande Bharat train to halt at Pathankot too

Nurpur, February 25

The Railways Ministry yesterday fulfilled the demand of passengers by issuing directions to the authorities concerned for halting the New Delhi-Shri Vaishno Devi Katra Vande Bharat Express train (22439 and 22440) at the Pathankot (cantonment) railway station at an early convenient date.

Meanwhile, the decision has been widely hailed by residents and commuters in Kangra and Chamba districts of the state and Pathankot district in the neighboring Punjab.

Following residents’ persistent demands, Indu Goswami, Rajya Sabha MP from the state, had recently raised the issue in the House during its Budget session. She had raised the necessity of halting the Vande Bharat train, keeping in view the importance of religious tourism in Kangra district. She had asserted that this only broad-gauge railway line catered to residents of Chamba and Kangra districts, and pilgrims visiting Vaishno Devi shrine in Jammu used to pay obeisance to Maa Jawala, Baglamukhi, Chamunda, Brijeshwari and Lord Shiva temples in Kangra district.