SRINAGAR: The Northern Railway has extended the operation of the special Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra–Banihal–Katra train service by four days to meet growing passenger demand and ensure smoother travel in the Jammu Division.
Officials said the service, which has emerged as a preferred alternative to road transport, will now operate from 3 to 7 October.
The decision was taken by Divisional Railway Manager Vivek Kumar, Senior Divisional Commercial Manager Uchit Singhal, and Senior Divisional Operations Manager Arish Bansal after reviewing the surge in passenger traffic, particularly during the festive season.
“The train proved to be a better option for passengers than road transport. To provide relief and convenience, the operation has been extended for four days,” an official statement said, as per Daily Excelsior.
Authorities confirmed that the timetable and stoppages for Train Number 04688/04687 will remain unchanged. Passengers have been advised to refer to the Indian Railways website or call the official enquiry helpline 139 for travel-related details.
