JAMMU, Jan 06: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, on Monday stated that by connecting Kashmir to the national railway network, Indian Railways has laid the foundation for a prosperous and integrated future for Jammu and Kashmir.
Addressing during the inaugural ceremony of the Jammu Railway Division in Jammu, the Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha expressed his gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for dedicating the new Jammu Railway Division.
“Surveys are ongoing for the Anantnag-Bijbehara-Pahalgam (78 km) and Awantipora-Shopian (28 km) rail lines,” LG Sinha said. He added that the Detailed Project Report (DPR) is under examination for new rail lines, including Baramulla-Uri (46 km), Baramulla-Kupwara (39 km), Jammu-Poonch via Akhnoor, Rajouri (223 km), Manwal-Talra via Ramkote, Billawar, and Dunera (117 km), Sopore-Kupwara (37 km), Pathankot-Leh (664 km), Bilaspur-Manali-Leh (489 km), and the doubling of the Baramulla-Banihal line.
By linking key towns and regions, these projects promise to unlock the region’s untapped potential and boost local economies, Sinha said.
“This new division is very important from a strategic point of view and will also stimulate economic growth, employment generation, infrastructure development, and the creation of new tourist circuits in Jammu and Kashmir,” the LG added. He emphasized that Indian Railways stands at the forefront of the journey toward a developed and self-reliant Jammu and Kashmir.
“For Jammu and Kashmir, Indian Railways is spearheading a new era of development and integration,” the LG said, while adding, “The Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) will connect Kashmir to Kanyakumari, boosting tourism, trade, and employment opportunities in the region.”
He reiterated that by connecting Kashmir to the national railway network, Indian Railways has laid the foundation for a prosperous and integrated future for Jammu and Kashmir.
Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the LG noted, infrastructure development across all sectors in Jammu and Kashmir has set new benchmarks in the UT. He highlighted that the enhanced connectivity is already unlocking the region’s potential, stimulating trade, encouraging industrialization, and facilitating the movement of raw materials and finished goods.
The Lieutenant Governor also stressed that improved access to markets is leading to the socio-economic upliftment of the region and providing a significant boost to tourism.
Additionally, the LG discussed several transformative railway projects in the pipeline for Jammu and Kashmir, demonstrating Indian Railways’ unwavering commitment to improving regional connectivity and fostering socio-economic development.
Given the rapid industrialisation in Jammu and Kashmir, with Jammu, Samba, and Kathua emerging as industrial hubs, the LG emphasized that Indian Railways should explore the possibility of establishing a Private Freight Terminal to facilitate the transportation of goods and products for traders and industries in these areas.
The LG also lauded the efforts of every stakeholder and recalled the contributions of the late Devender Singh Rana in the creation of the new Jammu Railway Division. He further mentioned that the Z-Morh tunnel would be inaugurated by the Prime Minister soon.
The creation of the Jammu Railway Division, covering a total of 742.1 km, comprising the Pathankot-Jammu-Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla, Bhogpur Sirwal-Pathankot, Batala-Pathankot, and Pathankot-Joginder Nagar sections, will significantly benefit Jammu and Kashmir and the surrounding regions.
