Katra, June 06: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday described the launch of the Vande Bha-rat Express to Kashmir as a “historic accomplishment,” saying the new railway link connecting the Valley with the rest of India will transform tourism, boost trade, and improve the daily lives of people across the region.
Speaking at a large gathering in Katra after Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Che-nab and Anji bridges and flagged off the first Vande Bharat Express between Katra and Srina-gar, Abdullah said, “The benefits to Jammu and Kashmir will be substantial. Tourism will receive a major boost, our trade will expand, and our people will enjoy more comfortable, affordable, and reliable transportation.”
The event was attended by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, Union Ministers Ashwini Vaish-naw, V. Somanna, Dr. Jitendra Singh, and other dignitaries.
Hoping for “things to get back to normal” in the union territories, CM Abdullah added, “The same four people were present here in 2014 when the Katra Railway Station was inaugurated, Manoj Sin-ha, who was then MoS (Minister of State) for railways, got promoted as post of LG, while I had a demotion—from Chief Minister of a state to Chief Minister of a Union Territory. By the bless-ings of Mata Vaishno Devi, I believe Jammu and Kashmir will regain statehood under your watch.”
Abdullah recalled the longstanding dream of connecting Kashmir by rail. “Even the British had planned a railway along the Jhelum to Uri but never succeeded. What the British couldn’t achieve has been accomplished under Prime Minister Modi’s leadership,” he said.
“I was an eighth grade student when this project was started. Today, I am 55 years old. My chil-dren have also completed college. Now this project has been completed,” he said, pointing at the decades-long journey of the railway link between Kashmir Valley and the rest of the country.
Remembering former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Abdullah said, “I will be making a huge mistake if I do not thank Vajpayee ji on this occasion. This happened after he gave it the status of a project of national importance and made it a part of the Budget.”
Highlighting the railway’s impact on daily life, Abdullah said the new link would alleviate the hardships caused by frequent highway blockades and unreliable travel options. “This railway en-sures uninterrupted, all-weather connectivity, making travel easier and more affordable for the people,” he added.
The chief minister also specifically mentioned the inflated airfares during highway closures. “When the highway closes, the airlines start exploiting us. A ticket for Rs 5,000 suddenly costs Rs 20,000 within hours. But with the completion of the rail link, at least the loot of the passen-gers will be reduced now.”
Economically, Abdullah emphasised that the rail link would open national and global markets for Kashmir’s horticulture sector. “Our apples, cherries, and other fruits will reach markets faster and fresher, benefiting growers and traders immensely.”
He also praised Modi’s overall development push in the region, citing ongoing projects like the Jammu and Srinagar ring roads, Delhi-Amritsar-Katra Expressway, highway upgrades, and air-port expansions. “Under the Prime Minister’s stewardship, Jammu and Kashmir is witnessing un-precedented growth. Today marks another milestone on the path to prosperity and statehood,” Abdullah said.
Reflecting on his personal connection to the railway’s progress, Abdullah recalled previous mile-stones, including inaugurations of the Anantnag Railway Station and Banihal Tunnel, calling it “fate or destiny” to be part of defining moments in the region’s railway history.
Abdullah concluded by reaffirming his government’s commitment to realizing the vision of a “Viksit Jammu Kashmir, Viksit Bharat,” and expressed heartfelt gratitude to Prime Minister Modi for turning a decades-old dream into reality.
