Onlykashmir.in News Desk
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Thursday said the expansion of railway infrastructure is giving a major push to tourism, horticulture, industry and other sectors of the Jammu and Kashmir economy, as he interacted with a delegation of media representatives from Mumbai at Lok Bhavan in Srinagar.
During the interaction, the Lieutenant Governor spoke about the rapid pace of infrastructure modernisation across the Union Territory in recent years. He said the realisation of the dream of Kashmir to Kanyakumari rail connectivity marked a historic milestone in the development journey of Jammu and Kashmir.
“Under the leadership of Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, the expansion of railway infrastructure is driving a major boost in the tourism, horticulture, industrial and other economy sectors of the Union Territory. Today, Jammu Kashmir is moving forward with unprecedented confidence towards peace and prosperity,” Mr Sinha said.
He also noted that strengthening connectivity, particularly in the border region, is vital not only for driving local economic prosperity but also for safeguarding national security.
The visiting media delegation, accompanied by Western Railway Chief Public Relations Officer Vineet Abhishek and senior railway officials, is on a four-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir to study the region’s rail network and infrastructure.
The rail link to the Valley has long been regarded as one of the most ambitious engineering undertakings in the country. Built through the young and fragile Himalayan terrain, the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link project involved long tunnels, deep gorges and some of the tallest bridges in the world, including the Chenab bridge. With the line now connecting the Valley to the national railway network, passengers and freight can move between Kashmir and the rest of the country without depending solely on the highway, which is frequently disrupted by snow and landslides in winter.
For the Valley’s economy, the implications are considerable. Horticulture, which supports a large number of families, relies on quick and reliable transport of perishable produce such as apples to markets in other states, and rail offers a lower cost and weather resilient alternative. Tourism operators expect easier access to attract visitors who prefer train travel, while industries hope for lower freight costs on raw material and finished goods.
The Lieutenant Governor’s emphasis on border connectivity reflects the strategic dimension of the project. Reliable all-weather transport allows faster movement of people and supplies to sensitive areas, which supports both civilian life and security needs.
Inviting journalists from Mumbai, a major hub for national media and the headquarters of the Western Railway, is intended to carry the story of the region’s transformation to wider audiences. During their four-day tour, the delegation is expected to see the railway infrastructure at first hand and speak to officials and local stakeholders.
Whether the promised economic dividend reaches the ground will depend on how effectively the new connectivity is linked to markets, tourism circuits and industrial estates, a task that now rests with both the administration and the private sector.
