Srinagar, Feb 06 (KNO): Member of Parliament (MP), Anantnag–Rajouri, Mian Altaf has written to Union Minister for Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw, urging the inclusion of Anantnag Railway Station as a scheduled stoppage for the Vande Bharat Express operating on the newly commissioned Udhampur–Srinagar–Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL).
In his detailed letter, accessed by the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), the MP described the launch of the Vande Bharat Express in Kashmir as a "historic achievement that has finally integrated the Valley with the national rail network, bringing speed, comfort, and modern connectivity to the region". However, he expressed serious concern over the absence of a halt at Anantnag station, calling it a major inconvenience for the people of South Kashmir.
“Anantnag is the administrative and commercial headquarters of South Kashmir and serves a massive catchment population of nearly 2.5 million people across Anantnag, Kulgam, Shopian, and Pulwama districts,” Mian Altaf wrote. He pointed out that official figures consistently show Anantnag as one of the busiest railway stations in the Valley in terms of daily passenger footfall.
Drawing a comparison, the MP noted that while Banihal largely functions as a transit interchange, Anantnag caters to a dense and permanent population comprising students, traders, professionals, and government employees. He further welcomed the experimental stoppages provided at stations such as Reasi for local commuters, but stressed that Anantnag’s year-round passenger volume far exceeds that of Reasi.
“Providing a similar stoppage at Anantnag would ensure equitable access to premium rail services for South Kashmir, which has a significantly larger catchment area than Banihal and Reasi combined,” he said.
Highlighting Anantnag’s strategic and cultural importance, Mian Altaf described it as the main gateway to Pahalgam and the holy Amarnath Cave shrine, in addition to being home to major heritage sites such as the Martand Sun Temple, Mughal Gardens, and Verinag. He underlined the region’s rich syncretic traditions rooted in Shaivism, Buddhism, and Sufism, which continue to attract pilgrims and tourists from across the country.
The MP also pointed out that with Anantnag Railway Station being opened for goods traffic in August 2025, it has emerged as a crucial logistics hub for South Kashmir’s horticulture sector, particularly apple and fresh produce growers. According to him, a Vande Bharat halt would significantly boost business travel, tourism inflow, and the fast movement of high-value goods.
Terming the Vande Bharat Express a symbol of Indian Railways’ modernisation and efficiency, MP Altaf cautioned that the absence of a stop at Anantnag was creating a sense of regional imbalance among the people of South Kashmir. “A mere two-minute halt would not affect the overall run-time of the train but would immensely enhance ease of travel and economic integration of the region,” he stated.
The Member Parliament appealed to the Railway Minister to direct concerned authorities to designate Anantnag as an official stop for the Vande Bharat Express at the earliest. “I am confident this step will be warmly welcomed by the people of South Kashmir and will stand as yet another milestone in the people-centric initiatives of your Ministry,” he added—(KNO)