J&K Govt plans to recreate pre-1947 Railway Station in Bikram Chowk; start mini train to R S Pura

Jammu: Advisor to UT’s Lieutenant Governor, Baseer Ahmad Khan, on Friday visited the historic Bikram Chowk railway station which used to exist before 1947 partition and directed the officers to prepare a Detailed Project Report (DPR) for its recreation.

To give boost to Heritage Tourism, the government is exploring options for starting of a tramway, mini train or joyride from Bikram Chowk to R S Pura, he said, adding the railway station has a historical and heritage significance and extraordinary efforts should be taken up for its recreation on the same lines as it had existed. “Our heritage should have an active use- engaging people constantly and recreation of railway station will give a fillip to Heritage Railway Tourism,’’ he added.

Advisor Khan directed the officers to go through the pictures available of the historic railway station as it had existed earlier, so that it is restored to its pristine glory.

He asked the officers to involve the Railways for technical support in preparation of DPR and said that recreation of such an asset will become a source of aspiration for the younger generation.

During the earlier days, the steam engine train used to cross through R S Pura station and reach its destination, the Bikram Chowk station. Director Tourism, Jammu, Raj Kumar Katoch, Mubarak Mandi Heritage Society, Executive Director, Deepika Sharma and officers from Railways accompanied the Advisor during his visit.