Kashmir Valley and Ladakh regions remained less accessible to the rest of the country owing to their landlocked topography and high ranges of the Himalayas. Not to speak of railway, even road connectivity in such mountainous regions is a difficult and expensive enterprise. But inaccessibility has been the main reason for backwardness and economic deprivation of the State. This was what our leadership felt after their experience of governing the State.
Two basic parameters were fixed for overcoming accessibility related difficulties for the State of Jammu and Kashmir. These comprised the widening of the Highway and upgrading connecting arteries including building new connecting roads and bringing railway line to Kashmir and Ladakh regions. In due course of time both components were subjected to survey and finalization. Today we find that both components have made fairly good advance and the time is not far away when the Highways will become four-laned and rail connectivity from Jammu to Baramulla will become functional.
The Railways Minister, while flagging off two passenger trains with limited stops from Banihal to Baramulla at Rail Bhavan in New Delhi, said that the Prime Minister has been emphasizing that rail connectivity of J&K State with all the four corners of the country is a priority with him. The Railways Minister himself has been keeping close track of progress in the Katra -Banihal 111 kilometer rail link which is very challenging owing to mountainous topography of Pir Panchal range.
Flagged off the limited-stop Diesel Multiple Units (DMUs) from South Kashmir’s Anantnag district and undertaking journey in the train up to Baramulla by the Chief Minister and her entourage is tantamount to making history. The population of the State has increased and there is much increased economic activity everywhere. Number of train commuters has sharply increased and there is over-crowding at stations and inside the bogies. All these difficulties needed to be addressed. Limited stop DMUs will reduce train journey from Banihal to Baramulla to just 2 hours and 30 minutes.
Rail connectivity is indeed a key to total transformation of the State. The most glaring impact will be on its economy. Horticulture, handicrafts and tourism are the mainstay of Kashmir economy. Rail connectivity is bound to impact all the three and the rest as well in a big way. Once rail link between Baramulla and the rest of the country is established, thousands of tons of Kashmir fresh and dry fruit will be transported to different parts of the country in shortest possible time and without damage to the merchandise. In other words it means that thousands of families involved with horticulture industry in Kashmir will be benefited in a big way. By exploring new market destinations in the country with assured supply of Kashmir horticulture products, Kashmir horticulture industry will receive enormous boost.
Another area is of tourism. With railway network available in the State, home as well as foreign tourists can be provided joy rides with all amenities and recreational facilities enabling them to have a panoramic view of the Paradise on earth called Kashmir. In the course of a five hour joy ride from Banihal to Baramulla and back, tourists will be able to enjoy the unparalleled beauty of Kashmir. Once that programme is approved, its adjuncts like moving Kashmir Arts and Handicrafts outlets, Kashmiri cuisine or cultural programmes could become source of attraction for the tourists on wheels in Kashmir. This has to be planned meticulously and then executed with clarity of vision. A Kashmir Darshan Train can be an improvement on the Rajasthan Tourist special train.
Train connectivity gives great boost to famous Kashmir Handicrafts. Usually, Kashmir Art and Handicrafts dealers have opened their agencies in different parts of various metropolitans in the country. Most of them leave Kashmir at the beginning of winter and carrying their merchandise, they move from city to city to market the commodity. They have to plan their business deals for three to four months at a time because they cannot commute between their homes and sale destinations in the country. Railway connectivity will take them direct to the destination in whatever Indian State capital or cities where they want to run their business.
Nearly one crore pilgrims visit the holy Shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi every year. Now Katra, the last destination for pilgrimage to the shrine, is connected with railway. Obviously, when the link between Katra and Banihal now under construction is completed and made functional, many of these pilgrims to the holy shrine will be tempted to take a joy ride to Kashmir for a couple of days to enjoy the fabulous nature and beauty. This all bodes well for great economic improvement of the State.
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