The Uddhampur-Katra rail link is almost complete. The pilgrims’ journey to Vaishno Devi is set to be much easier with the coming of this rail route all the way up to the base camp of the hill shrine. The pilgrims no longer need to break journey at Jammu. The 25 km Udhampur-Katra rail route, coming up at an estimated cost of Rs. 960 crores, passes through inhospitable terrain, making it an extremely challenging engineering project.  The route has seven tunnels and 30 small and big bridges. The Katra station is ready with three platforms, with two more coming up later.

The J&K government has issued a strict warning that stern action would be taken against those found cheating tourist, in the hope of enhancing and boosting J&K’s image as a global tourist destination. “It should be ensured that no tourist should be cheated by any person related to tourism trade, which harms the business and gives bad name to the State. Such offenders would be dealt with stern action under the Tourist Act of the state,” said State Minister for Tourism G.A. Mir. Mir directed enforcement agencies for strict enforcement of tourism rules.