Excelsior Correspondent
NEW DELHI, June 15: Dr Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State (MoS) in Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), Personnel Public Grievances & Pensions, Science & Technology (I/c), Earth Sciences (I/c) Atomic Energy and Space, today recommended to the Union Railway Minister D. V. Sadananda Gowda the long pending demand of the people of Kathua in Jammu & Kashmir for construction of a new Railway Station behind Ramleela Ground, near Sadhu Ki Boliyan.
In a letter addressed to the Railway Ministry, Dr. Jitendra Singh has brought to his notice that the viability and feasibility of the project already stand approved by the concerned surveying authorities.
Dr Jitendra Singh quoted the survey report to point-out that as many as 30 villages of Andar area including Kharkra, Jarai, Kokhyal, Nagri, Jakhbar, Narote, Bamyial, Padiyari and many more as well as the town of Kathua would benefit from the new track as the distance from the nearest Railway Station would be reduced by 78%.
He said that Kathua being located in close proximity to Punjab should have developed as an industrial hub with avenues of employment for the youth but it has not received the attention that it deserves even though cities like Jallandhar which is hardly at 2 hours distance have developed as huge industrial centres. Improvement in rail connectivity will prove to be a boost for the people of the area both industrially as well as socially, he added.
Kathua district is the gateway to the State of J&K, said Dr Jitendra Singh and added that he is also suggesting rail link to neighbouring Basohli which would enhance the tourist potential of the Bani-Billawar-Basohli circuit and generate avenues of employment.The frequency of local train service in the area could also be increased, he added.
He informed that the process of taking up one by one the projects related to development of the region will continue and called upon the people to approach him with specific demands accompanied with proper documentation so that the follow-up could be effective and fruitful.
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