With the Udhampur-Katra line likely to begin this year and establish direct railway link to Vaishno Devi, expectations of the people in J-K are high as they hope to get more sops from Laloo Prasad Yadav’s railway budget this time. Sources said around Rs 8,000 crore is expected to be alloted for the state in the budget. Earlier when Prime Minister Manmohan Singh inaugurated the Jammu-Udhampur line, he had announced that the Udhampur-Katra line would start in 2006. Despite several roadblocks, engineers are hopeful that the line would open by year-end. ‘‘We hope to open the Udhampur-Katra line by December this year,’’ said Dharam Singh, Divisional Railway Manager, Ferozepur. The work of doubling the Madhopur-Jammu line will take place this year and another stretch between Vijaypur and Jammu is likely to be completed by November-end. The sources said that Rs 400 crore is likely to be alloted for this purpose. People of Udhampur and adjoining areas have been demanding an increase in the frequency of train service between Jammu and Udhampur. At present, there are only three trains, including DMU and Uttar Sampark Kranti, running on this route. ‘‘There is also a demand to change the timings of the DMU to Udhampur. We have sent a proposal for an additional DMU to Udhampur. Things will be clear only after the budget,’’ said Singh.
