CM: Direct rail service to Kashmir won’t have any negative impact on Jammu

Jammu: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday allayed fears of any negative fallout on Jammu after the launch of direct rail service between Kashmir and the rest of the country anytime soon, saying his government will ensure that the region benefits immensely by the completion of the long-pending project.

Abdullah was speaking at a function organised here in connection with the virtual inauguration of the Jammu railway division by Prime Minister Narendra Modi ahead of the start of direct train service to Kashmir from Katra, with the final trial run scheduled for Tuesday.

“Two days ago, we got this good news through media that the trial train reached Katra from Srinagar. It is expected that very soon, the prime minister will inaugurate this section which will complete the railway line and immensely benefit the people of the region,” the chief minister said.

However, he said there are some concerns among the people related to the rail service, especially in Jammu.

“It is often said that when rail service reached Jammu from Pathankot (Punjab), the situation in Pathankot became a bit difficult. Here too, at some places, there is a notion that if trains reach Kashmir directly from Jammu, the latter might face the same situation as Pathankot.

“On behalf of my government, I want to assure the people of Jammu that the rail service to Kashmir will have no impact on the region.

Rather, we assure that Jammu will benefit from it as it will enhance trade and tourism, besides increasing travel between the two regions,” Abdullah said.

Praising the prime minister for his efforts to improve connectivity and road network in Jammu and Kashmir, Abdullah said the expansion of railway line to Poonch-Rajouri in Jammu and beyond Baramulla in Kashmir will be the responsibility of the Jammu railway division.

“In my previous tenure as chief minister, the last function I attended was the inauguration of the Katra railway station. After assuming

charge again, this is my first major function. And both are linked to railways and held under the leadership of Modi,” he said.

The inauguration of the Jammu division is the biggest proof of the efforts of the prime minister to improve connectivity and road network in the region, he said.