Politics News

Rail Link will boost tourism, end road closure woes: CM Omar

Srinagar, June 5: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday said that the Vande Bharat train, which will be flagged off by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday, is a major step forward and will benefit people across the UT. Speaking to reporters, Omar said he has been waiting for this train service since his school days. "I was in Class 7th when the project began. After a long wait, it's finally happening," he said. Asked whether the direct train service to Kashmir will also revive tourism which was badly hit in the valley following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, he said "unfortunately, the summer season is over.We should not expect much but we have hope for the next summer." Abdullah said he would like pilgrims to visit Amarnath cave shrine in large numbers during the yatra starting on July 3. "Let them come. Benefit from our hospitality and enjoy 'darshan' (glimpse of naturally formed ice-shivling) before returning safely. Like yesteryears, we will try to ensure a successful yatra," he said. On security, he said there is no need to worry as adequate security arrangements are in place for the safety of the railway infrastructure and the passengers. "The train service has been running without any problem in the valley for many years. The Katra-Sangaldan section is being commissioned and we are ready for it," Abdullah said. On Chenab and Anji bridge, he said the 272-km railway line between Udhampur to Baramulla has set a lot of records. "The Chenab bridge is higher than the Eiffel Tower in Paris, making it the highest bridge in the world. I have come from there and it is scary to look down from there. Similarly, the Anji bridge is India's first cable-stayed railway bridge," he said. Abdullah said the project was very challenging and the railway track along Katra-Banihal section is mostly going through the tunnels, having very little open air track. "The railway line will be beneficial to our economy, tourism, trade and (create employment) for locals. It will benefit everyone," he said. He added that highway closures during bad weather often lead to people being overcharged for air tickets. "During road blockades, airlines charge Rs 20,000 for a ticket that normally costs Rs 5,000. With this train, such problems will reduce," he said. Earlier in the day, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh visited Katra railway station to review arrangements ahead of the Prime Minister's scheduled inauguration of the train service. Calling completion of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Railway Line the beginning of a historic journey for Jammu and Kashmir and a big step towards building a "Viksit Bharat, Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh on Thursday praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for fast-tracking the completion of Railway Line after taking office in 2014. Dr. Singh, who visited the Chenab and Anji bridges and Katra railway station along with J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to check preparations for the PM's visit, said that when Modi took charge in 2014, the railway project was almost stalled. "The Chenab bridge faced many doubts, whether it could be built and whether it would be safe. But under PM Modi's leadership, those doubts were overcome," he told reporters. Dr. Singh added that the train route will greatly boost business, tourism, and travel. "People will now be able to reach Srinagar from Katra in just three hours," he said, calling the railway a lifeline for economic activity and tourism. He also suggested that travel agencies should start including this train route in their tour packages, especially for pilgrims visiting the Vaishno Devi shrine. "After darshan, tourists can visit Kashmir easily and comfortably within a few hours," he said. He added that it will help reduce traffic on the Jammu-Srinagar highway, especially during bad weather or Army movements. He further said that two trains one for passengers and one for the Army have already been tested on the route. "Earlier, there was heavy pressure on the highway due to troop movement. Now, with trains available, the load on roads has reduced," he said. Calling it a historic chapter in India's growth story, Dr. Singh said Katra station has already helped bring Jammu and Kashmir closer to the rest of the country. "This railway link will now become a major part of India's development journey," he said. He added that the long history behind the project. "The idea of connecting Kashmir with the rest of India by rail started nearly 150 years ago during Maharaja Pratap Singh's reign," he said. At that time, engineers were called to design a narrow-gauge track like those in Darjeeling or Shimla. However, the project did not take off. After Independence, Jammu received its first train in 1972. "Earlier, we had a railway station in Sialkot, but we lost that after Partition," he said. Dr. Singh said the Kashmir rail line is different from other railways in the country. "It passes through hilly areas and snow-covered terrain, so the coaches are specially designed for this route," he added. "Even in February, snow melts faster here due to climate conditions, so the train experience will be very unique."

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