S Tahir-ul Haq
Early Times Report
KUPWARA, Nov 30: Some people want to take credit for the extension of railway link to Kupwara in this north Kashmir district, where general public has lot of grievances as they believe that the people in power failed to improve basic civic amenities in their respective constituencies.
On November 29, in a significant development, the Government of India approved extension of Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla rail link up to Kupwara in north Kashmir.
"I am glad to inform you that Railways has prioritized the extension of rail link from Baramulla to Kupwara and has sanctioned an updated survey for the new link," Anil Srivastava, Advisor (Transport) NITI Aayog said in his communication to J&K Chief Secretary BVR Subrahmanyam.
According to the communication, the Baramulla-Kupwara rail link project would be taken up under umbrella work by the Railways.
Pertinently, the demand for extension of rail link from Baramulla to Kupwara was forcefully projected by the Governor's Administration before NITI Aayog CEO, Amitabh Kant during his visit to the Aspirational Districts of Baramulla and Kupwara last month.
Chief Secretary BVR Subrahmanyam said the Governor's Administration has also made a strong case for Jammu-Rajouri-Poonch rail link and is expecting significant forward movement on this important connectivity project soon.
Irony is that some people are taking credit of railway extension, where as the DC Kupwara, Chief Secretary, CEO Planning commission (NITI Aayog) and Governor in particular has made tremendous efforts for achieving the project, said sources.
They said that those people who are taking the credit wants to take control over the emotions of general masses of Kupwara district, where as the reality is that they have failed to improve basic civic amenities in their respective constituencies.
Mohammad Afzal Khan of Tangdar said that people are overwhelmed after the project was approved by the Centre, adding that the railway link will bring some economic and social development that could lead to greater economic growth by opening new avenues of employment.
"We are residing in difficult mountainous terrains, and JK has always been a challenge to transportation providers, especially for the people of far flung area", said another resident of Chowkibal, Abdul Salam. |
