Fayaz Bukhari
Srinagar, July 9: Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed today said the forthcoming meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Pakistani counterpart in Russia is a good development.
Mufti when asked about the meeting between Prime Minister Modi and his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif on the sidelines of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Summit said here: “It is a good step.”
Earlier, while speaking at a function of launch of new trains in Srinagar, Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu said the Indian Railways will play its role in promoting tourism in Jammu and Kashmir and the work on the Railway projects of the State will be expedited. “We will do whatever we can do within our limits to promote tourism in Jammu and Kashmir,” he said.
Speaking at a function held to flag off four new trains between Baramulla in north Kashmir to Banihal on the other side of Pir Panjal mountain range, Prabhu said that the meeting of the Railway Board was held here with a view that the projects in the State get more importance and the work on them is expedited.
Prabhu said IRCTC of the railways can work out an arrangement with the Jammu and Kashmir Tourism Development Corporation for promoting tourism in the State.
The four new trains have been started with the aim of easing the heavy rush of passengers on the existing trains between Srinagar and Baramulla and Srinagar and Banihal.
On the delay in Katra-Banihal Rail link started during the tenure of then Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, Prabhu said the Indian Railways will expedite the work in order to connect the Valley with rest of the country through trains at the earliest. “We will connect Kashmir to Delhi but we want the hearts to connect too),” he said.
Prabhu said the 12 additional train coaches, which could not be ferried to Kashmir due to various reasons, will be transported to the Valley within next two month.
Earlier, Sayeed, addressing the gathering, asked the railway authorities to set a timeframe for completing the Katra-Banihal link. “You do not have to make a public announcement today. You can tell me privately,” he added.
The Chief Minister said the completion of the rail link would not only provide physical connectivity between Kashmir and rest of the country, it will be boost the economy of the Valley and promote tourism in the State.
“Our horticulture produce will reach markets far and wide across the country while tourists coming from rest of the country can see the landscape of Kashmir through this train. We should have a Palace on Wheels like Rajasthan … they have done
well. We can have stops for the tourists at various places,” he said.
Mufti said improved rail connectivity in the State will bring in huge relief to the people who are suffering on account of frequent breakdown of Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, especially in harsh winters. “Unseasonal rains this year have also taken a heavy toll on NH A-1 with some portions, in particular between Ramban and Banihal,” he stated.
Chief Minister said linking of Jammu with Kashmir region by train was a fulfilment of a dream that seemed improbable some years ago. He said the project was a matter of great pride for which the Indian Railways had to overcome huge challenges. “Rail connectivity will change the lives of the people by promoting trade and tourism sectors,” he said.
“It is my dream to see Kashmir connected with other parts of the country through a well-laid out network of trains,” Mufti stated and added that it will be a turning point in the history of the state once we are able to connect Kashmir with the rest of the country.
Mufti also asked the Railway Minister to look into the possibility of providing jobs to one member of those families whose land has been acquired for the railway project in the State.
According to railway officials, more than 23,000 passengers travel on the train between Baramulla and Banihal.
Deputy Chief Minister, Dr. Nirmal Singh, Union Minister of State for Railways, Manoj Sinha, Minister for Revenue, Javaid Mustafa Mir, Minister for Transport, A. G. Kohli, Minister of State for Revenue & Public Works, Sunil Kumar Sharma, MP. Shamsher Singh Manhas, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, B. B. Vyas and Chairman, Railway Board, A. K. Mittal, besides several senior officers of the State Government and Indian Railways were present on the occasion.
Meanwhile, Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu, called on the Chief Minister here this afternoon.
During their meeting, the two leaders discussed wide-ranging issues relating to introduction of more train services and completion of Katra-Banihal Railway Line within the stipulated timeline.
Once complete, the Katra-Banihal railway line will provide all-weather link to Valley with the rest of the country.
Minister for Finance & Culture, Dr. Haseeb A. Drabu, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, B. B. Vyas, Chairman, Railway Board, A. K. Mittal and General Manager, Northern Railways, A. K. Puthia were also present on the occasion.
The Chief Minister stressed on putting in place an institutional grid to fast-track progress on all issues pertaining to construction of Katra-Banihal Railway Line. The proposed high-level committee will have one Nodal Officer each from the State Government and the Union Railway Ministry, which will regularly meet to iron out the issues and expedite work on the most difficult stretch.
Chairman, Railway Board, informed the meeting that out of the 111-km Katra-Banihal rail stretch, nearly 85 km comprise laying of tunnels and 8-10 km bridge length on very rugged and difficult terrain.
Describing railway connectivity as vital all-weather alternate link in the State, the Chief Minister requested the Union Minister to introduce special services like Palace on Wheels at various tourist destinations. He also suggested opening of new Passenger Reservation Service (PRS) Centres at Gulmarg, Pahalgam, Sonamarg and Patnitop to facilitate the tourists.
Suresh Prabhu indicated to the Chief Minister starting of a train service, with support from Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation, exclusively for tourists in which renowned Kashmiri cuisine, the wazwan, will be served to the visitors.
To promote State’s artefacts, Suresh Prabhu said his Ministry will reserve stalls at vantage points on various railway stations under the ‘Station Development Programme’ of Indian Railways.
On the issue of implementation of R-APDRP, a major part of which is being executed by IRCON, the Chief Minister requested the Union Railway Minister to ask CMD IRCON to hold periodic review meetings with the State Government authorities to speed up the implementation.
The Chief Minister also raised the matter of developing 200-km access roads constructed by Indian Railways as part of the Railway Line Project as alternate road link between Katra and Srinagar.
On this, Suresh Prabhu indicated that a structured meeting involving Union Railways and Road Transport ministers and the Chief Minister will be convened at New Delhi to conceive a utility plan.
The Chief Minister also discussed with the Union Minister the issue of construction of accommodation for housing of SDRF components at South and North Portals of Banihal-Qazigund Railway Tunnel to meet any eventuality of disaster.
Regarding the issue of jobs to land owners, whose land has been acquired for laying of tracks, the Chief Minister urged Suresh Prabhu to consider the pending cases, as they are facing lot of difficulties due to loss of livelihood.
The Chief Minister said the State Government will also map the requirement of skills so that the local youth are train in maintenance of tracks and other connected jobs to increase their chances of employment.
The Railways Minister assured the Chief Minister that only local youth will be employed in the Indian Railways through the Railway Recruitment Board, in a fair and transparent manner.
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