Old Jammu Railway Station at Bikram Chowk waiting to be developed

Thursday, June 10, 2021

In another example of non-serious approach toward creation of tourist attraction points in the City of Temples, the Tourism Department J&K has failed to act on the directions of the Advisor to the Lieutenant Governor concerning development of old Jammu Railway Station at Bikram Chowk as heritage point during the last few months.

The much hyped plans to start joyride from the Bikram Chowk to R S Pura to boost heritage railway tourism has remained confined to the official statements as well.

On January 29, 2021, Advisor to the Lieutenant Governor Baseer Ahmed Khan, supervising the affairs of the Tourism Department, visited the historic Railway Station at Bikram Chowk and asked the officers to prepare a Detailed Project Report for its recreation.

“The Government is exploring the options for starting of a tramway, mini train or joyride from Bikram Chowk to R S Pura to give boost to heritage railway tourism”, Mr. Khan said, adding “the Railway Station has a historical and heritage significance and extraordinary efforts should be made for its recreation on the same lines as it had existed”.

Mr. Khan also directed the officers of the Tourism Department to go through the pictures available of the historic Railway Station like it existed earlier, so that it can be renovated to its perfect glory.

The old Jammu Railway Station at Bikram Chowk was built in 1897 but was lying derelict after the partition as the railway link to Sialkot was broken. “For development of old Jammu Railway Station as heritage site the Government is required to take back land from the Transport Department as the land belonging to the Railways Department was supposedly transferred to the Transport Department in 1954 and presently the yard and workshop of JKRTC are located there”, said the sources.

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