NEW DELHI, Mar 25: Kashmir valley will finally be connected with the rest of country through train service by the end of this year or early next year, Railway Minister Ashwani Vaishnaw said on Saturday.
The Railway Ministry, he said, was also making a special Vande Bharat train compatible with the weather and cold conditions in the region. “By December this year or January-February next year, the special Vande Bharat train will chug,” he added.
Vaishnaw said the rail network in the valley would be expanded up to the Line of Control (LoC). In a first, the Minister said the frontier district of Kupwara, close to the LoC, will be among other destinations where the rail connectivity would be expanded.
“A detailed discussion is being held over the doubling of lines in Baramulla. Three more connections are to be done in this line. Many works have been completed on this line. Electrification work is almost done. Extending the line till LoC will be also discussed with the LG (Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha),” Mr. Vaishnaw said.
Vaishnaw is in Kashmir valley on a two-day visit to review work on the Udhampur-Baramulla rail link project, which includes India’s highest railway bridge along the Chenab river. An engineering marvel, the Chenab rail bridge is 359 metres above the river bed, which is 35 meters higher than the Eiffel Tower. The single arch railway bridge is already completed and trial run on this was carried out a few days ago.
The Railway Minister said special Vande Bharat trains that can run in extreme cold and snowy conditions in Kashmir valley was being built. “For Jammu and Kashmir, a special design Vande Bharat train is being made. We have factored in temperature and snowfall here. The train is being manufactured accordingly. It will have heating systems and other facilities. By mid of next year this train will be here in Kashmir valley,” Mr Vaishnaw said. He also inspected the ‘first station of India’ at Baramulla and also purchased local products at ‘One Station One Product’ stall.
He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given special emphasis to connect Kashmir valley with a rail link and more budgetary allocation has been made to compete the project in time and provide the best possible travel and facilities to passengers.
The Indian Railways is planning to further improve telephone connectivity, double lines, parcel services, cement, and pharmaceutical trade. “These services would be ensured by the end of the year. Facilities for apple trade would also be considered,” the Minister added.
(Manas Dasgupta)