Train to Kashmir, track of hope

The launch of the Vande Bharat Express between Katra and Srinagar, connecting the Kashmir Valley with the rest of India, is rich in symbolism and substance. A month and a half after the Pahalgam terror attack, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has launched big-ticket railway projects in Kashmir which have been long in the works. The Prime Minister described the newly completed Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Railway Link as a “recognition of J&K’s new strength and a proclamation of India’s new strength”. It is an engineering marvel that can positively influence the economy of Kashmir and the lives of its people through improved trade and tourism. The project comes with the world’s highest railway arch bridge above the Chenab River, the first cable-stayed bridge of the railways, and the country’s longest transport tunnel. The
train takes just three hours to reach Srinagar from Katra while a road journey in good weather takes at least six hours.

The rail link facilitates hassle-free travel during all the months of the year. The people of Kashmir travel frequently from the Valley to Jammu and other parts of the country and return during change of seasons – now, this travel has become cheaper, safer, and more reliable. This provides a major boost to the economy of Kashmir as transport of goods can be done without delays and at lower costs. Tourism, a major contributor to Kashmir’s economy, will also benefit substantially from the rail link. Other modes of travel remain prone to disruption and cost escalation because of the vagaries of weather. It is important to accord maximum security to the new lines and trains to ensure passenger safety.

Another key benefit will be in the form of increased people-to-people contact. Trains have traditionally linked people, reducing distances and enhancing communication. If the scrapping of Article 370 was intended to help Kashmir integrate with the country, the new rail link may be seen as an extension of that move. While the building of physical infrastructure in Kashmir and improving connectivity is important, attention must also be paid to integration at the level of the people. This should happen at the political, social, and emotional levels. The government must fulfill the promises made to the people of Kashmir, including the restoration of statehood. That is what former chief minister Farooq Abdullah probably meant when he said that the train is the first step, and more efforts are needed to reduce the dil ki doori and Delhi ki doori.