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| Khatana seeks metro connectivity for Jammu and Kashmir | | |  Early Times Report
NEW DELHI, Feb 6: MP Rajya Sabha Nominated and senior BJP leader Gulam Ali Khatana on Friday highlighted the transformative impact of rail connectivity in Jammu and Kashmir and sought clarity on the possibility of introducing metro services in the region.
Raising a supplementary question during Question Hour, Khatana said that the people of Kashmir had long aspired to experience year-round rail connectivity. He congratulated the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw for ensuring uninterrupted train operations even during harsh winter conditions, noting that visuals of trains running amid snowfall had drawn global attention and reflected public enthusiasm in the Valley.
Referring to border districts, the MP recalled having earlier raised the issue of rail connectivity for the Rajouri-Poonch belt, which often remains cut off during winter due to heavy snowfall, affecting both civilian movement and security forces. He welcomed the recent announcement related to the region and thanked the government on behalf of the local population.
Khatana further asked whether the government had any proposal to develop metro rail projects in Jammu and Kashmir, pointing out the tourism potential of Kashmir and Jammu's identity as the "City of Temples".
Responding, the Railway Minister said that matters relating to metro projects fell under the purview of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs and assured the House that the MP's query would be conveyed to the concerned Minister.
The Minister also acknowledged Khatana's earlier intervention regarding proposed rail spur lines from the Srinagar-Baramulla section towards tourist destinations, including Pahalgam. He said concerns raised by farmers over the impact on apple orchards were examined, following which it was decided to strengthen the main Baramulla-Srinagar line while shelving the proposed spur lines.
On the Rajouri-Poonch rail link, the Minister said survey work was progressing rapidly to improve connectivity across the border belt. He also underlined that trains operating in high-altitude regions require special technical designs due to extreme weather and pressure conditions, adding that the decision to deploy specially designed rolling stock had proven effective during the recent winter season. |
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