Direct Train to Kashmir: A Game Changer
Suhail Khan
Srinagar, Jan 10: The wait is finally over for the people of Kashmir. After decades of anticipation, the completion of the rail link between Srinagar and Delhi, marked by the inauguration of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has sparked widespread joy and excitement across the region.
The dream is about to come true, as Kashmir is all set to be directly connected to New Delhi. People are excited and happy, with high hopes for good business and better connectivity.
Kashmir Despatch team spoke with several locals to gather their views on this historic achievement.
Adil Shah, a local, told Kashmir Despatch that “we, as Kashmiris, should be genuinely happy about this achievement because it will ultimately help us grow our businesses.” He emphasized that “we should view this positively, as the direct train service from Delhi to Kashmir will benefit us in a broader perspective.”
He stated that there wouldn’t be any negative impact on road transport, citing examples from states where train services operate alongside road transport. He emphasized that we should not focus on the negative aspects; rather, we should celebrate this achievement as a development that will benefit our future.
He mentioned that the people coming here by train will obviously contribute to Kashmir’s economy, as they will use road transport once they arrive, which will benefit the business sector, and we should all be happy about it.
Abid, another local resident, told Kashmir Despatch that this direct train service will provide numerous advantages, including saving valuable time. He explained that previously, the journey from Delhi to Kashmir took three to four days, but now it will only take a few hours.
Abid also noted that the fares will be lower, making travel more accessible for everyone. Earlier, the cost of traveling to Delhi was around 5,000 to 7,000 INR, but now the minimum fare will be reduced.
Haya Javeed, another local resident, said that the direct train service will benefit the general public the most. He pointed out that ordinary Kashmiris will particularly benefit, as the middle class often faced difficulties traveling due to high fares or a lack of transportation options. However, with this train, they can easily travel to Delhi and other destinations with lower fares.
He explained that during the winter, many people faced significant challenges when roads were closed due to bad weather, which sometimes led to emergencies being put on hold. Now, with this train service, there is a sense of relief.
Pertinently, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah also expressed gratitude and optimism during the inauguration of the new Rail Division of Jammu at the Jammu-Tawi Railway Station earlier this week.
The event, marked as a historic milestone for the people of Jammu and Kashmir, was inaugurated and addressed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi through video conference.
On the occasion, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also inaugurated and laid foundation of several rail projects in different parts of country.
Also in attendance were Minister of Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, Union Minister of State Jitendra Singh, Member of Parliament Jammu, several Members of Legislative Assembly (MLAs) and other dignitaries.
Referring to the significance of the new connectivity, Chief Minister Abdullah remarked, “We recently received the good news that a trial train is being run from Srinagar to Katra. It is hoped that it will become fully operational soon, benefiting the people of Jammu and Kashmir immensely.”
Meanwhile, With the train to Kashmir becoming a reality soon, all the trains going to Srinagar and returning will have to stop at Shri Mata Vaishno Devi railway station at Katra in Jammu every time.
Sources told Kashmir Despatch that due to security reasons it has been decided that Katra station will be a point where passengers will have to do transshipment.
Suhail Khan is a filmmaker, content writer, and freelance journalist.
