Finally, there is some good news. The long-awaited direct train between Jammu and Srinagar is likely to begin operations after October this year thus ensuring all-weather connectivity at a time when repeated highway closures have crippled movement and trade in Jammu and Kashmir. Reports suggest that the Jammu railway station expansion works were targeted for September but got delayed by three weeks, adding, direct train between Jammu and Srinagar is in the pipeline. It is on the high-priority list and can start after October.
The recent Srinagar-Jammu highway closure has once again highlighted the fragility of surface communication of Kashmir region with rest of the country. The weather patterns have almost destroyed the highway and fruit, particularly apple, are rotting on this road. While, fruit transportation has impacted the Valley’s economy badly, essentials coming from outside to Kashmir too have been halted severally. The prices of day-to-day consumable items are touching skies as there are no fresh supplies and filling stations are running dry.
It is a crisis like situation wherein both the governments, LG administration and elected government, have failed to do any concrete thing. The apple growers, whose is the peak season now, are grappling with losses and there are promises and just promises from the dual administration. The Union Government has started a direct parcel service from Budgam to Delhi to ferry the fruit but apple traders are upset that the sole train can’t resolve the issue.
The only solution to the problem is to resolve the issue practically. The Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah today personally visited the highway and instructed the authorities to do everything possible to ensure that smooth transportation of fruits.
Currently, two eight-coach Vande Bharat trains operate between Katra and Srinagar, carrying about 900 passengers each. Officials said that operational constraints—such as the need for a dedicated platform for security reasons, completion of a Foot Over Bridge (FoB), lifts, and a maintenance facility—are holding up the launch of the direct service.
Presently, no one in Kashmir is interested in having a train ride to Jammu. What everybody is concerned about is the ferrying the fruits as it is the issue that is impacting Kashmir’s economy. The governments, both at Srinagar and New Delhi have to come up with solutions. Apple is to be taken to Mandis of rest of the country. Stop blame game. Join heads and hands and find a solution.
If our apples rot on roads, our economy too will rot. Is there anyone concerned about it. General public is posing a question to both LG and CM. Who of the you two is going to save our economy. If any of you have the authority, please do it, This vital sector of Kashmir economy is going down the drains, otherwise. If the report is true, prefer fruit first, passengers can wait. We need fruit to reach Jammu and from there to other parts of country. That should be the priority.