JAMMU, Jan 18: In a significant development, Transport Minister Satish Sharma inaugurated a special bus service connecting Jammu to Prayagraj. This initiative follows the Minister’s directive to enhance transport facilities in acknowledgment of the religious sentiments of the residents of J&K.
Taking prompt action based on these instructions, MD of JKRTC, Rakesh Kumar Srangal, initiated the service to Triveni, Prayagraj, aimed at facilitating pilgrims attending the Maha Kumbh Mela 2025.
The Minister shared that the special bus will leave from Jammu Bus Stand daily at 5 AM, transporting pilgrims to Prayagraj (Triveni) for the holy dip at Sangam, with return trips scheduled after an overnight stay.
To streamline payment processes for travelers, the JKRTC, in partnership with J&K Bank, has implemented a QR code system for online fare payments.
The Minister emphasized the government’s commitment to promoting religious tourism, revealing plans for several initiatives to enhance connectivity to key religious destinations such as Buddha Amarnath, Shahdara Sharif, Sudh Mahadev, and the Golden Temple.
He noted that the launch of these bus services is anticipated to generate revenue for the Corporation and acknowledged the MD of JKRTC for aligning the department’s services with public needs.
Following this, the Minister assessed the operations of the Jammu Power Distribution Corporation Limited (JPDCL) within his constituency, Chhamb. MD JPDCL, Mohammad Yadin Chowdhary, detailed the Corporation’s physical and financial achievements, as well as performance metrics like billing and collection efficiency in Chhamb.
He reported an overall enhancement in the power situation in Jammu, with unscheduled outages significantly reduced, aside from rare instances due to low frequency or technical issues in the Northern grid, especially during peak load periods.
Satish Sharma recognized the commendable progress in various sectors and urged the maximization of revenue while minimizing Aggregate Technical and Commercial (AT&C) losses.
The Minister directed officials to concentrate on loss reduction across all divisional and sub-divisional levels and endorsed the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana, which aims to increase solar rooftop capacity and empower households to generate their own electricity. He instructed officials to raise awareness about the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana and assist citizens in the solar panel installation process.
