Srinagar, Dec 24: Welcoming the Government of India’s nod to construct Jammu-Rajouri-Poonch rail line, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Monday demanded that it should be done in project mode and completed in a fixed timeline.
“Construction of Jammu-Rajouri-Poonch rail line has come close on the heels of Baramulla-Kupwara railway line and we welcome such an important decision. Connectivity has always been an important issue in Jammu and Kashmir and it merits government’s special focus,” said former Minister and senior PDP leader Naeem Akhtar in a statement issued here.
He added that while the PDP welcomes such a decision, it is concerned over the snail’s pace of work going on at Jammu and Kashmir’s main railway project- Srinagar-Baramulla-Udhampur Railway line.
Akhtar said that the foundation of the project was laid by Indira Gandhi in early 80s and in spite of four decades, it is still under execution which is a very sad commentary on the importance of this plan even when it has been declared a national project. “Three generations of the state have wished this dream being realized since 1980 when it was first started. There has been no funding problem and no technical deficit but unfortunately, the project continues to remain in limbo,” he said.
Akhtar added that the Srinagar-Baramulla-Udhampur Railway line and new rail projects approved for the state should be done on project mode and completed in a fixed timeline.
