Our country has the privilege of having the largest rail network in the world. In post-independence period, big expansion and improvement in rail services has been made. Indian engineers have proved their mettle as the best in their profession by laying new lines, improving old ones and effecting overall improvement in rail services.
It was during the tenure of Atal Bihari Vajpayee that Indian Railways in general and Northern Railways in particular began to toy with the idea of bringing rail line to Kashmir. Initially it seemed bizarre of railway coming to the mountain girded valley after crossing the forbidding Pir Panchal ranges. It was more like a dream to think that the valley would be connected with the rest of the country through railway. But given the determination of policy planners and the will of the Government, survey of the route was made and finally blue print was prepared. The Jammu – Srinagar railway track was distributed into segments and each segment needed special contractors to undertake the task. In June 2014, Prime Minister Modi inaugurated the Jammu-Katra rail link and that was a clear indication that the link would be extended to Banihal. Already Kashmir valley link had been established between Banihal and Baramulla, a 197 kilometer stretch. What remained was 105 kilometer link between Katra and Banihal. This is the toughest link being mountainous and requiring much of tunneling. It is in this stretch that the highest railway bridge in Asia on river Chenab is being built which will a marvel of engineering skill.
The link between Katra and Banihal was scheduled to be completed in 2016 but owing to five PILs pending in the State High Court the targeted date could not be adhered to. The good news is that the court decision has come and all the five PILs have been disposed of. Addressing the Economic Editors’ Conference in New Delhi recently, Railways Board Chairman said that the main hurdle in resumption of work on Katra – Banihal link was the five PILs pending in the court of law. He added that with the disposal of all the five cases by the High Court the path has been cleared for resumption of work on the said link and hoped that the link would be completed by ending December 2018. This news has sent cheer to the people of the country in general but to those in J&K in particular. This is a vital and very sensitive link not only for the people of landlocked valley but also for the defence forces as they would receive supplies regularly. Direct rail link between the Valley of Kashmir and other parts of the country will bring about drastic change in the economic, social and cultural life of the people of the State of Jammu and Kashmir. It will open avenues of employment; it is expected to give big boost to trade and commerce of the valley especially the export of Kashmir fruit and import of food grains. The quantum of trade will increase, mobility will increase and interaction among the people will also increase.
The Chairman gave some very interesting figures of big increase in investments made in rail services of the country during past three years. He said during 2014-15, the investment was Rs 45,000 crore which was Rs 93,000 crore during 2015-16 and increased to Rs 1.21 lakh crore in 2016-17. Next year, the investment would be more than Rs two lakh crore. The Railway Ministry has many progressive schemes on the anvil like converting all lines into broad gauge, connecting all capitals with railways, drastically improving passenger conveniences and introducing fast track rail service between selected cities in the first experiment and then expanding it.
While all this sounds so good for the State of Jammu and Kashmir, two points need to be highlighted. One is that rail connectivity between Srinagar and Leh should also be given priority in view of strategic importance of Ladakh region. The second point is that we would like to make an appeal to the people of the valley to desist from damaging railway lines and stations and installations even if they have to express their resentment to the Government for one or the other matter. It is so because railways are the property of the people and damaging them causes much distress to the people for whom the service has been provided. No sensible person would destroy his own property. A number of railway stations have been damaged during the ongoing unrest. These may take a long time to be rebuilt and the ordinary people, workers, students and labourers suffer the most.
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