Early Times Report
Rajouri, Apr 30: Senior BJP leader and Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha) Nominated Er. Gulam Ali Khatana, expressed heartfelt gratitude to Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi for announcing the development of railway tracks in the Rajouri–Poonch region. Speaking at a function organized by railway authorities, Khatana said the initiative marks a transformative step in taking Jammu & Kashmir from a phase of destruction to an era of prosperity. He highlighted that the move will significantly benefit youth, farmers, small businesses, the hotel industry, and overall infrastructure development, including highways and railways. The event was attended by prominent dignitaries, including Union Minister for Railways and IT Ashwini Vaishnaw, Chief Minister of Jammu & Kashmir Omar Abdullah, Minister of State in PMO Jitendra Singh, MP Rajya Sabha Sat Sharma, MLA Jammu South Narinder Singh, MLA Bahu Vikram Randhawa, and MLA Jammu East Yudhvir Sethi, along with senior officials including Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo and Railway General Manager Pandey. On the occasion, a historic run of the Vande Bharat Express between Jammu and Srinagar was flagged off, marking a milestone in regional connectivity. Khatana emphasized that the railway expansion will boost the tourism and fruit industries while ensuring round-the-clock connectivity between the two key regions of Jammu and Kashmir. He also appreciated the efforts of Ashwini Vaishnaw in modernizing railway infrastructure through electrification, adoption of advanced technologies, improved construction standards, enhanced safety measures, and promotion of a cleaner environment. The initiative is being widely seen as a major step toward economic growth and long-term stability in the region. |