The Kashmir Pulse

SRINAGAR — Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his visit to Jammu, made significant announcements and inaugurated numerous development projects on Tuesday, emphasizing the transformation underway in Jammu and Kashmir.

Addressing a massive public rally at MA stadium in Jammu, PM Modi highlighted the BJP-led government's efforts to remove Article 370, which he termed as the primary obstacle hindering the region's progress. He assured that the Union Territory is now on the path of development, promising infrastructure that rivals renowned destinations like Switzerland.

PM Modi underscored the government's commitment to eradicating dynastic politics, corruption, and appeasement politics, aiming to provide equal opportunities for all communities. He pledged to continue working towards fulfilling the aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

Among the unveiled projects, PM Modi inaugurated the first Electric Train in J&K, aiming to reduce pollution and improve transportation. Additionally, he launched various initiatives in education, railway, aviation, and road sectors, totalling over Rs 32,000 crore in investment.

During his visit, PM Modi distributed appointment orders to approximately 1,500 new government recruits and laid the foundation stone for a new terminal building at Jammu Airport. He also dedicated several rail projects, including the new rail line between Banihal-Khari-Sumber-Sangaldan and the electrified Baramulla-Sringar-Banihal-Sangaldan section.

The Prime Minister's visit received appreciation from Jammu and Kashmir LG Manoj Sinha, who hailed the initiatives as crucial steps toward the region's progress.

SRINAGAR — The Northern Railways is inching closer to connecting the Kashmir Valley with the rest of the railway network in India, as it will start train services on the total 184-km-long Baramulla to Sangaldan sections of the USBRL project from February 20, railway sources said on Saturday.

A top railway official informed the news agency KNO that they are going to introduce a new MEMU and DMU train between the Baramulla and Sangaldan sections of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link Project (USBRL), starting on February 20.

He said the work on Sangaldan to Katra in Reasi district is also nearing completion. “Though there is no exact deadline, the project is in the final stage. Ninety-six per cent of the project has been completed, and work is in full swing on the remaining 4%,” the official said.

He added despite facing numerous challenges, Northern Railways has been working diligently to complete the 272-km Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla rail link project before the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to virtually inaugurate the newly completed 48-kilometer railway line between Banihal to Sangaldan and Chenab Rail Bridge on February 20.

SRINAGAR — Last week when the valley received fresh snowfall, pictures of a train navigating through intense snowfall went viral on social media.

Amid immense response, social media was abuzz, with tourists keeping it on their wishlist to enjoy a train ride in snowclad Kashmir.

A train ride in Kashmir has emerged as a new addition to the region's tourism landscape.

Vistadome coach, which was recently introduced by the government, is fast becoming a hotspot for tourists, who get a 360-degree view of Kashmir from north to south.

Every day scores of tourists embark on the train to experience the view of snowclad Kashmir from Baramulla to Banihal.

“We have been getting scores of passengers who visit here to explore Kashmir. Since the trains here pass through beautiful landscapes, especially during the winter season when it is white everywhere, tourists love to experience this view. Every day we get hundreds of tourist passengers at our Srinagar and Banihal stations,” an official told the news agency KNO.

He said the occupancy of Vistadome has increased especially after snowfall. “The coach is running full. People love to experience Kashmir through this coach, which has every facility to make one's trip comfortable,” he said.

Pertinently, Ashwini Vaishnaw, the Railway Minister, recently posted a captivating video showcasing a train navigating through intense snowfall in Jammu and Kashmir.

The video went viral with many expressing their desire to visit Kashmir and experience a train journey from south to north Kashmir.

Tourists who took the train ride in Kashmir compared it with that of Switzerland. "This is no less than Switzerland. We enjoyed our ride from Banihal to Baramulla. The views are amazing with snow-capped mountains. I recommend every tourist visiting Kashmir should enjoy and experience a train ride from Banihal to Baramulla to get a 360-degree view of Kashmir," said Bushra Khan, a tourist from Maharashtra.

Pertinently, last year, a series of videos of the scow-covered train also featured on social media mesmerizing video that enchanted netizens, even leaving South African professional cricket commentator Jonty Rhodes longing to embark on a journey on the train.

On a normal day, at least 15 pairs of trains run regularly from Baramulla to Banihal and carry almost 30,000 passengers, including students and employees.

SRINAGAR — In a significant milestone for railway connectivity, the newly constructed line spanning 14.869 kilometres in the Banihal-Khari section of Firozpur Division is set to be inaugurated. The electrified train operation will commence shortly, marking a crucial step in enhancing the region's transportation infrastructure.

As part of the Amrit Mahotsav celebrations, a high-speed trial of the Banihal-Khari section will be conducted on January 3, 2024. The Commissioner of Railway Safety will oversee the inspection, ensuring adherence to safety standards and operational efficiency. The trial will be conducted by a special train after a thorough trolley inspection.

Following the successful trial, regular train services will commence between Banihal and Khari stations as part of the ambitious USBRL Project. This new line is expected to improve connectivity and facilitate smoother transportation in the region.

While celebrating this achievement, railway authorities emphasize the importance of public safety. The general public is advised to refrain from accessing railway lines in the specified section. Crossing the tracks at any location is considered trespassing and is a punishable offence under the Railway Act. Authorities urge everyone to prioritize safety and abide by the regulations for a secure and efficient rail operation.

The opening of the Banihal-Khari section marks a significant stride towards modernizing railway infrastructure, aligning with India's vision for robust and efficient transportation networks. The Firozpur Division looks forward to the commencement of regular train services, providing improved connectivity for the benefit of the local community and beyond.

SRINAGAR — In a significant development, the Northern Railways is all set to start work on the 50-kilometers Baramulla-Uri stretch in Kashmir, for which tenders have been floated, officials said on Sunday.

Once the project is completed, the border area of Uri will get connected with the railways.

A top railway official told the news agency KNO that Northern Railways is mulling to begin Final Location Survey (FLS) for new Baramulla-Uri line and for which proposals are being invited by the Ministry.

“Tenders have been floated for engineering survey work of a railway line/roadway using modern survey techniques such as Aerial Survey (Aerial Photogrammetric Survey or Aerial LIDAR) and DGPS (Differential Global Positioning System) levelling and creation of DEM,” he said.

He said that the overall track from Baramulla to Uri will be 50 kilometres.

Chief Area Manager (CAM) Kashmir Railways, Saqib Yousuf also confirmed the development. He said it is good news for the entire Kashmir.

Pertinently, the government has stated that Kashmir will be connected with Kanyakumari through rail link.

SRINAGAR — Amid fresh snowfall in Kashmir Valley including Srinagar, most flights have been cancelled and others have been delayed so far at ‘International’ airport here on Monday.

Confirming it, the Director, of the Airport Authority of India (AAI), Srinagar Airport, Kuldeep Singh said that all Air India flights for today have been cancelled due to bad weather. Also, he said, three flights of Vistara — UK 644 SXR DEL having estimated time of departure at 11:35, UK 611 SXR IXJ (ETD 12:35) and UK 612 SXR DEL (ETD 15:40) have been cancelled.

Also, he said, five Spicejet flights (SG 8963 and SG 8161, SG 951 SXR-BOM, SG 8963 SXR-IXJ, SG 8161 SXR-IXJ), three Indigo flights (6E 2981/2982, 6E 2356/2356, 6E 6022/6163) and one GoFirst (G8911/G8913) have also been cancelled.

A senior official of the airport told news agency GNS that there was a possibility of more flight cancellations.

Earlier, Director AAI Srinagar said visibility at the airport was only 200 M and increased to 500 M. However, he said, there is continuous snowfall. “We are simultaneously clearing the snow….To avoid inconvenience and to avoid congestion, please check the status of your flight from your airlines before coming to the airport,” he added.

Train services suspended amid snowfall in Kashmir

Authorities have suspended train services amid snowfall in Kashmir Valley on Monday.

“The train service will remain suspended until the snow on the railway line is cleared,” an official said.

“The railway will resume its operations as soon as the snow is cleared. Once it is done, there will be a first trial run and then the regular train is expected to resume. We apologize to the people for the inconvenience,” the official added.

SRINAGAR — A train on the Baramulla-Banihal section derailed from the railway track in Mazhama area of central Kashmir’s Budgam district on Friday. However, no casualties were reported in the incident.

An official, as per the news agency KNO, said the derailment took place at Manzhama after the train left the railway station today morning. He said all the passengers were safe, while railway officials reached the spot.

The official said the derailment was accidental and further details were being ascertained.