Decades after connecting to a vast railway network, people getting in or moving out of Kashmir will still have to start from Katra as no direct rail is in the offing. Regardless of the impact it will have on the travellers enjoying one of the picturesque tracks in India, the decision will add a new income to the shrine town, report Syed Shadab Ali Gillani
Three years ago, in an all-party meeting with 14 political leaders in Jammu and Kashmir, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his desire to bridge the physical and emotional distance between Delhi and Kashmir. He said he aimed to remove both, the Dilli ki duri (distance from Delhi) and Dil ki duri (distance from the heart). One of the most ambitious projects to fulfil this vision is the much-anticipated railway connectivity but now Katra is coming in between Delhi and Srinagar.
Railways officials have told reporters that all trains chugging into Kashmir will start from Katra and passengers moving either way will have to shift to a new train at Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Railway Station in Katra for transhipment. They have cited security concerns.
“When a train arrives at this platform, all passengers will have to deboard and exit the station,” one top official said. “They will then need to re-scan their luggage at the departure lounge before boarding the train stationed at platform number 1 for their onward journey. The same train will not continue to further destinations, and passengers will have to wait for the next train to proceed.”
This makes Katra a mandatory halt station where passengers from either side will have to spend some time. This can mark the rise of the small shrine town as the new economic hub in Jammu and Kashmir.
With train service set to be inaugurated by the Prime Minister on January 26, Northern Railway had already released a timetable for train services to Kashmir on December 31. The schedule mentions that one Vande Bharat Express and two Mail Express trains will run daily between SMVD Katra and Srinagar. Although the Railways had issued the train timings, there was no mention of the onward journey from Katra to other destinations.
An Emerging Centre
Katra which is already famous for the Vaishno Devi shrine hosts annually around one crore pilgrims from across the country. In 2024, nearly 10 million (one crore) pilgrims paid obeisance at the shrine, according to the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) CEO, Anshul Garg. The exact number was 94.83 lakh, which is the second-highest number in a decade.”
“For the third consecutive year, the number of devotees visiting the shrine has exceeded 90 lakh. Last year, the count crossed 95 lakh. This year’s yatra has followed a similar trend,” he remarked. Efforts, he said are underway to provide improved facilities for devotees and that footfall in Katra is expected to rise with better connectivity. Garg also highlighted the Board’s ongoing infrastructure projects aimed at enhancing the pilgrimage experience.
Better Connectivity
Located at the foothills of the Trikuta mountains, 48 km from Jammu, Katra serves as the starting point for pilgrims visiting the shrine, accessible through a 13-km footpath. Given the massive footfalls and around-the-year arrivals, the town has already evolved as a major tourist station.
Baldev Raj Sharma, a BJP leader, who represents the Vaishno Devi constituency (earlier Katra) in the 90-berth assembly, said the decision of railways will give his town a new boost. “Katra is on the brink of a transformational phase that will undoubtedly elevate its economic and social standing,” Sharma said. “With the Central Government’s initiatives like the six-lane highway connecting Delhi to Amritsar and onward to Katra, as well as the development of the third intermodal station in the country, Katra is becoming a critical hub for both pilgrimage and tourism.”
These projects will not only enhance accessibility but will also provide a significant boost to the local economy. “The intermodal station, with a budget allocation of Rs 1,230 crore is a landmark development. It is one of only three such stations in India, the other two being in Kashi Vishwanath and Nagpur,” he said. “Such initiatives reflect the government’s commitment to creating world-class infrastructure in religious and tourist hubs. This station, located close to the railway station, will streamline transportation, making it easier for pilgrims to travel from various parts of the country to visit Vaishno Devi and other nearby attractions.”
The expressway connecting Delhi to Katra will reduce travel time, making the journey feasible in just 6 hours by road, Sharma said. The new railway schedules and direct trains will encourage more visitors.
“This is expected to increase the footfall of pilgrims, which already averages around 1 crore annually, with peaks during seasons like May, June, and December,” said Sharma.
Growth Push
The BJP leader said the intervention with a focus on better connectivity will trigger significant growth in its hospitality sector. “The region already hosts prominent hotel chains like Ramada, Holiday Inn, and Welcome, alongside several five-star and four-star hotels. Currently, there are about 600 smaller hotels, with 20 big hotels in the pipeline,” he said. This expansion reflects the growing demand for accommodation and the area’s increasing popularity as a tourist destination.”
Talking about the future growth and potential expansion of the region Sharma said that the tourism potential is not limited to Vaishno Devi alone. Nearby sites like Shiv Khodi, Devi Pindi, and Govardhan Parvat are being developed as part of a broader religious and cultural circuit. “Improved road networks are making these destinations more accessible, encouraging visitors to explore the region further. This diversification in tourist attractions is set to enhance the economic prospects of Katra and its surrounding areas.”
The Board Factor
After the government decided to do away with the traditional preacher management system and hand over the systems of the shrine to the Board, the town witnessed massive transformation. One of the wealthiest shrines in the region, the SMVDSB is a major builder of amenities and now runs a university, a major hospital and a medical college. Open source data suggest that in 2020, the shrine pocketed an income of nearly Rs 167 crore. In 2021, RTI-triggered information suggested that the Board received a donation of over 1,800 kgs of gold, 4,700 kilos of silver, and Rs 2,000 crore of cash in the last two decades (2000-2020).
Apart from managing the shrine well, the Board is always on tenterhooks to ensure the best infrastructure for the pilgrims and the natives. Though the people have been very appreciative of the contributions the Board has been making, one of their projective triggered a serious crisis last month, around the year’s end.
The Board wanted to start working on a Rs 250-crore ropeway project, which would help pilgrims to use the facility to manage the long 13 km trek, from Tarakote Marg to Sanji Chhat, especially for senior citizens and children. This project, which originated from a 2017 National Green Tribunal directive to phase out mules due to environmental and animal cruelty concerns, was about to impact the livelihoods of 11,000 service providers, including 3,844 ponywallahs, 4,233 pithus, and 3,300 palkiwallahs. The people associated with these services joined hands under Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Sangharsh Samiti and resorted to a massive agitation.
The protests began in November and intensified on December 25, when local business owners called for a 72-hour bandh. Violence broke out, with stone-pelting incidents leading to police intervention. Leaders Bhupinder Singh and Sohan Chand were detained, sparking a hunger strike by eight youths demanding their release.
As the tensions mounted, the BJP got into protester support. “There were two main issues. First, the six-lane road should not be towards Tarakot. If it does, people believe it would bypass Katra entirely, with travellers coming directly from Delhi to Tarakot, leaving Katra marginalised,” Sharma said. “I am thankful to the BJP for raising this matter. After taking it up with the relevant authorities, the party decided to resolve this issue by ensuring the road does not extend to Tarakot and is redirected elsewhere. This decision has brought satisfaction to the people.” He said the ropeway had the potential to impact the livelihoods of the people.
Finding a strong resistance to the move, Raj Bhawan finally gave in and the project was kept hanging, 18 detained were set free, cases were withdrawn and the window was kept open for future consultations. Yatra resumed quickly.
Connectivity Remains
While the train finally moves into Kashmir after more than 150 years of wait, the talking point on the street is still, will it be a complete, dependable surface communication link? The crisis is not on the tracks, people say but somewhere in the mind. “If it is a security issue, why cannot it be solved in Srinagar or Qazigund?” a businessman who shuttles between Srinagar and Jammu every week said. “Why is Katra more secure than Qazigund for baggage scanning?”
The Jammu and Kashmir People’s Democratic Party (PDP) described the decision as an unnecessary burden on the people of the valley, saying it further increases their hardships.
“For years, we were told that train services to Kashmir would benefit the common masses and ease travel. This latest directive shows that Kashmiris are still far from experiencing any real travel convenience. The train services, which were inaugurated amid great fanfare, are turning out to be nothing more than a facade,” said PDP General Secretary Mohammad Khurshid Alam.
Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party President Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari expressed concern over reports suggesting that passengers may need to deboard at Katra, re-enter the station, and undergo fresh security checks before continuing their journey, Bukhari termed the arrangement “troubling and humiliating.”
The Kashmir Valley Fruit Growers cum Dealers union highlighted that the current arrangement does not address the logistical needs of the valley’s horticulture sector, a critical contributor to Jammu and Kashmir’s economy.
