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Srinagar, July 20- Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad today said the rail link between Kashmir and rest of the country would promote trade and tourism in the Valley besides making movement of people and goods possible round the year.
Azad was speaking to a large delegation of Railway Kissan Association (RKA), a body of those farmers whose land had been acquired by the government for laying the railway track from Qazigund to Baramulla. MLA, Abdul Gaffar Sofi and President RKA, Ghulam Rasool were present.
Chief Minister said the rail project within the valley would be completed next year and in 3 to 4 years the dream of a train travel to and from outside Kashmir was going to be a reality. He said this would help tremendously trade and tourism activities. One of the significant benefits unlike the road link, he said, was that rail travel would be a round the year affair, facilitating movement of goods and people irrespective of weather conditions. He said the longest tunnel was being constructed from Banihal town to Qazigund to overcome weather impediments.
Azad said direct rail travel from Kashmir to Delhi, Chennai, Mumbai, Kolkata and other major cities of India would boost tourism and economy of the valley. He said goods imported from other cities of the country would also arrive here on cheaper transportation charges and there would be no fear of fruit on way to country’s markets getting held up and rotten on the highway due to landslides and consequent closure of road.
Chief Minister praised the central government for enhancing the cost of the railway project from Rs. 7000 crore to Rs. 11,000 crore saying it would generate employment for local people. He said spending such a huge amount in a small place like ours was a big thing.
In response to the demands of the Association, Azad said that he had four meetings recently, two each with Railway Minister, Lalu Prasad Yadav and Minister of State for Railways, R. Velu who is supervising the rail project in J&K and stressed on early completion of the project, payment of pending compensation to land owners and providing job to a family member whose land was acquired for the project. He said he would also talk with the Prime Minister and press for early resolution of these issues. He asked the Association to prepare a list of the land owners who have not been paid in full so far.
Chief Minister also assured the Association that he would take up with the Railway Ministry their demand to provide tractor and foot passage to farmers whose agriculture land has been divided by the railway track.
Earlier, Abdul Gaffar Sofi thanked Chief Minister for finding time to meet the Association members despite his hectic schedule in view of the ongoing session of the State Legislature. He said earlier when they had met him at Jammu the Chief Minister was then also kind enough to spare time for them amidst the Assembly session.
President, RKA, Ghulam Rasool requested the Chief Minister to arrange employment for a member of the 2139 families whose land had been acquired by Railways from Qazigund to Baramulla.
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