A direct rail link between Kashmir Valley and the rest of India was unimaginable about a decade ago. But that has happened. When Union Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, along with Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah flagged off the direct rail between Jammu and Srinagar, the two capital cities of the erstwhile princely state and a union territory now, it was something unbelievable.
Earlier, the railways were operating a direct train between Srinagar and the holy city of Katra, where the shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi is located. But that had remained inconvenient and was mostly restricted to pilgrims who would make an onward journey to Kashmir Valley from Vaishno Devi. There was a long-pending demand from both the residents of Kashmir Valley and Jammu region that there must be a direct rail link between the two capital cities.
That this also happened during the tenure of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Bharatiya Janata Party makes it more significant as it will further contribute towards greater interaction and integration among people. The direct rail link will completely transform Kashmir’s economy from trade to tourism. Kashmir has massive potential for both. Fruits produced in Kashmir, particularly apples, walnuts, almonds, cherries, apricots and more will now find an immediate market in the plains.
Earlier, all transportation was through trucks which would move through the treacherous roads passing through hills. Now this problem can be addressed through rail cargo. It will now be just an overnight journey between Srinagar and New Delhi. Fresh fruit from Kashmir can land in Delhi in less than two days.
Commercial and tourist aspects aside, the direct rail link will help in the integration of the Kashmiri people with their fellow countrymen living across the country. We should soon see direct trains from Srinagar to different parts of the country. There must be a train launched, as soon as possible, between Kashmir and Kanyakumari.
Kashmir to Kanyakumari is often mentioned and referred to in the context of India’s unity and integration. A train by this name will be a tribute to our national integration. This should happen sooner than later.
Also read: Vaishnaw flags off first Jammu–Srinagar train
The Modi government will not only be remembered for the abrogation of Article 370 of the Indian Constitution, but also for bringing the people of Kashmir physically closer to their compatriots living in the rest of the country. This was as important as the abrogation of Article 370 itself.
Article 370 had created a “psychological barrier” between the people of Kashmir and those living in the rest of the country. It had led to a feeling of “separateness”, which eventually led to secessionist sentiment. Abrogation of Article 370 led to removal of that psychological barrier. It has been just about seven years since the Article 370 has been abrogated. It will take some time for complete emotional and psychological integration between the people living in different regions.
The direct rail link will add to the sentiment and feeling of integration. Now there will be more direct interaction between the people living in Kashmir and those living outside. An overwhelming majority of people living in Kashmir have never been out anywhere in the rest of India. This is because of the difficult terrain along the highway that connects Kashmir with the rest of the country. Even after a lot of work done on the highway, it still gets closed at times due to road erosion or harsh weather. It always remains unpredictable.
With rail, there will be no such problem. People can feel safely assured that they can sleep through their journey from Srinagar to Delhi. The same will hold true for the rest of the cities and states. People will sit in the train in Srinagar and get down in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Ajmer, Jaipur etc.
Greater the physical interaction and association, greater the trust and confidence between the people. So far, a large majority of people have been fed with wrong notions about what is happening in the rest of India. Same notions have been circulated across the country about people living in Kashmir. Once there will be greater interaction because of convenient travel “from and to” Kashmir, there will hardly be any scope of misinformation or misunderstanding. People will obviously believe what they experience first-hand and not what they are fed through propaganda.
The next step in Kashmir’s railway journey must be running enough number of trains between Srinagar and different parts of the country like there is a train from Bihar for each and every part of the country. While on one hand, it will transform Kashmir’s economy, on the other hand, it will build up greater trust among the people. This is a major milestone towards Kashmir’s full integration with the rest of the country after the abrogation of the Article 370 and that is what really makes it a historical moment.
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