Jammu, September 17: In a bid to safeguard Jammu’s commerce, employment, and economic interests, the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) joined hands with local shopkeepers today to stage a major protest. The demonstrators carried out a peaceful march from the historic Raghunath Mandir Chowk to City Chowk, demanding that the Jammu Tawi railway station be developed into a primary, final rail terminal.
Leading the protest, Shiv Sena (UBT) State President Manish Sahni stated that Jammu’s economy relies heavily on the influx of Mata Vaishno Devi pilgrims and tourists. He warned that reducing Jammu Tawi to a mere transit point—by routing trains straight through to Katra and beyond—poses an existential threat to the city’s trade, hospitality, and transport sectors.
Sahni highlighted that Over 1,200 hotels and guest houses, alongside 15,000+ taxi and auto-rickshaw drivers, depend directly on transit traffic. Nearly 50,000 retail shops rely on visiting travelers, with over 500,000 families tied to this economic ecosystem. Local business turnover has already plunged by 60% to 80% following the launch of direct rail corridors to Katra.
“We do not oppose railway modernization or network expansion,” Sahni remarked. “However, development must not come at the cost of Jammu’s centuries-old commercial backbone. Jammu Tawi should serve as the primary terminus for all long-distance trains, while dedicated local shuttles handle onward connectivity to Katra and Kashmir.”
The demonstration concluded with a joint appeal urging the Ministry of Railways to draft a concrete, time-bound roadmap to establish Jammu Tawi as a full-fledged railway hub. Sahni cautioned that the agitation would intensify if their demands are ignored.
Key trade representatives and community leaders in attendance included Sanjay Gupta (President, Raghunath Bazaar), Rajinder Parashar (Senior VP, Shiv Market), Rajesh Dewan, Rajeev Gupta, Rajesh Raina, and Ashish Gupta from Hari Market, alongside Sunny Pradhan of the Rashtriya Hindu Kalyan Sangathan.
