Katra Jun 10 (KNO): National Conference (NC) president Dr Farooq Abdullah on Tuesday said the direct train to Kashmir will boost tourism in Jammu and Kashmir and is a step toward reducing 'Dil Ki Duri'.
Speaking to reporters after travelling in the Vande Bharat train, Dr Abdullah, as reported by the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), said this train is fulfilling the dream of connecting Jammu and Kashmir with the rest of the country.
“It will connect Kashmir with the rest of the country. The train can run even during inclement weather conditions while all other routes remain closed for traffic," he said.
"The road between Srinagar and Jammu gets closed sometimes, and airlines start fleecing people by jacking up prices. With this train, people will be saved from that," he added.
The NC chief thanked those who worked on this project. He expressed gratitude to the former prime ministers, including Dr Manmohan Singh and Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
Dr Farooq said the Vande Bharat train will give a boost to the tourism sector here as people from different parts of the country can now directly visit Kashmir through the train.
Responding to a question, he said, “This train is a step toward reducing ‘Dil ki Duri,’ but much more needs to be done to bridge the gap entirely.”
The former Chief Minister embarked on his maiden journey on the newly inaugurated Vande Bharat Express from Srinagar to Katra, describing the rail link as a "huge blessing" for the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
Upon arriving at Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra Railway Station, he said, "Mata ne bulaya hai. Aaya hai bulawa shera wali ka", invoking the spiritual significance of the journey to the base camp for pilgrims visiting the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine.
Dr Abdullah also expressed hope that the train service would encourage a large number of Amarnath pilgrims to visit the 3,880-metre-high holy cave shrine during the annual yatra, scheduled to commence in July, further boosting religious tourism in the region.
He was received by Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary and National Conference Provincial President, Jammu Rattan Lal Gupta.
The NC chief highlighted the train’s potential to boost tourism and the local economy, particularly benefiting the horticulture sector by enabling faster transport of produce to markets across India, including Kanyakumari, Mumbai, Kolkata, and Bihar.
Accompanied by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s sons, Zamir Abdullah and Zahir Abdullah, Cabinet Minister Satish Sharma, CM's Advisor Nasir Aslam Wani and NC Chief Spokesperson Tanvir Sadiq, Dr Farooq Abdullah praised the engineering marvels of the rail link, including the iconic Chenab Bridge—the world’s tallest railway bridge—and the Anji cable-stayed bridge.
The Katra-Srinagar-Katra Vande Bharat Express, designed for the region’s unique weather and topography, offers a modern travel experience with high-speed operations up to 160 km/hr, fast acceleration, and a range of passenger amenities.
Operating six days a week (except Wednesday), the train completes the Srinagar-Katra journey in just three hours, providing a vital lifeline for residents, tourists and pilgrims—(KNO)