Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Jan 11: Maintaining that direct rail connectivity is essential to facilitate travel and promote local industries and businesses effectively, Chairman Peoples Democratic Front (PDF) and former Minister Hakeem Mohd Yaseen has expressed disappointment on the decision that there will be no direct train service from Delhi to Baramulla and instead, passengers will have to change the train at Katra and catch another train for Delhi.
In a statement issued today Hakeem Yaseen while appreciating launch of Vande Bharat train from Delhi – Katra-Baramulla, has urged the Govt to make the railway service direct from Delhi to Baramulla without transhipment at Katra. He said that people of Jammu and Kashmir had high hopes that a direct rail service from Delhi to Srinagar would be run to boost tourism, horticulture, exports, and other economic sectors. However, he added, the decision to operate the Vande Bharat Express trains on the Katra-Srinagar route instead of the anticipated direct Delhi-Kashmir route is a big disappointment.
He said people, especially fruit growers, tourism stakeholders and students had high hopes that the direct operation of Vande Bharat Express trains between Delhi and Srinagar would make travel convenient and time saving but the decision limiting the train route to Katra-Srinagar has dashed all expectations. He said transhipment of trains at Katra was both inconvenient and cumbersome.
PDF Chairman urged the PM Narendra Modi and Mininstry of Railways to reconsider the present arrangement and make the railway service direct from Delhi to Baramulla and vice versa and do away with the transshipment arrangement at Katra railway station.
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