A Dream That Began in 1983: Indira Gandhi’s Vision In 1983, then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi laid the foundation stone of what would become one of India’s most ambitious infrastructure projects: the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL). The aim was clear but bold—to connect Kashmir Valley, long isolated by treacherous terrain and volatile geopolitics, to the national railway network. At the time, Kashmir was accessible primarily via the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway or through limited air connectivity, both heavily dependent on weather and often disrupted. The rail link promised a revolutionary shift…
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Ruhullah Mehdi Slams ‘Forced Development’ in Kashmir: Who Really Benefits?
Ruhullah Mehdi Slams Infrastructure Imposition in Kashmir: Forced Development or Economic Neglect? A Debate Over Development in Kashmir – The debate over development in Jammu and Kashmir has once again taken center stage, with National Conference MP Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi voicing strong criticism against the central government. During a session in Parliament, Ruhullah accused the government of imposing infrastructure projects on Kashmir without considering the aspirations or immediate needs of its people. His remarks have reignited discussions about land acquisition, displacement of farmers, and the apparent neglect of regions actively…
Read MoreKashmir Awaits: Decades of Patience and a Ride Full of Expectations
Three decades of wait, plus a few fears, ride on the train to Kashmir Five years after it claimed to have bridged the historical gap between Kashmir and the rest of the country with the abrogation of Article 370, the Narendra Modi government is looking at a geographical triumph with the inauguration of the last link connecting Kashmir to the country’s railway network. The project was promised first in 1994, and seemed a remote possibility, with Kashmir in the grip of militancy at the time. For close to a decade,…
Read MoreDirect Train to Kashmir Will Boost Jammu’s Trade and Tourism: Omar Abdullah
Train to Kashmir, new Railway Division to spur Jammu’s economy: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Jammu, Jan 6: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Monday, while allaying the apprehensions related to rail connectivity to Valley, asserted that train to Kashmir and the new Railway Division would spur Jammu’s economy and bolster tourism potential with increased footfall. He was addressing the gathering at the Jammu-Tawi Railway Station during the inauguration of the new Rail Division of Jammu, virtually by the Prime Minister from the union capital. “We extend gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi…
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