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Deepak Arora, a timber merchant from Haridwar, has been visiting Vaishno Devi every year since 1971.
“I usually go in December as there is less rush. I take a train till Jammu Tawi and then a bus or taxi till Katra. Even though a train from Udhampur till Katra has been announced, the previous route will still be suitable for me. But, if there are older people travelling with us, I will go for the train till Katra as it will be more convenient,” Arora says.
Railway Minister Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday announced that passenger services from Udhampur to Katra are expected to start shortly, and trial runs have begun. This will enable pilgrims to reach the foothills of Vaishno Devi shrine directly.
On an average, Vaishno Devi receives over 95 lakh pilgrims every year.
Mohit Gupta, Chief Business Officer-Holidays, MakeMyTrip, says: “The shrine is one of the most popular pilgrimage destinations booked through MakeMyTrip. The new rail connection will not only reduce the travel cost but also make the journey more convenient and comfortable, and we expect more people to use the train services to reach Vaishno Devi. We expect a 10-15 per cent increase in bookings to Vaishno Devi this year.”
Madhavan Menon, Managing Director, Thomas Cook (India) Ltd, agrees, “Religious tourism, which is a high-volume segment, will get a huge stimulus from the proposed passenger service trains up to Katra Vaishno Devi.”
Hotel bookings too, are expected to get a boost in the region. Anil Rai, Business Head, Holidays of India, Tour Operating, Kuoni India, says: “A large segment of our travellers opt to travel to Jammu and Kashmir by air, making a trip to Vaishno Devi. The announcement of the rail service to Katra will see an increase in hotel bookings for Kuoni-SOTC for the segment that finds it feasible to travel by rail.”
Along with a train connection to Katra, pilgrims will get accommodation as well as shopping and food outlets on the first floor of the station. Tickets to the shrine will also be available at the station.
Priya Singh, a Jammu resident, says: “Because of the heavy rush of Vaishno Devi pilgrims round the year, it is extremely difficult for me to get a train booking for travel to or from Jammu. I expect with the new train till Katra, some of the pilgrim rush on this route will be eased.”
With inputs from Mamuni Das
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