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| New rail tracks, international airport to open golden chapter in boosting commerce, tourism: Azad | | |
JAMMU, January 19 “Success of all trade, commerce, economic, tourist and other development activities in Jammu and Kashmir are also directly linked with the effectiveness and efficiency of air and rail services besides better road and transport linkage”, said Chief Minister Mr. Ghulam Nabi Azad while reviewing the pace of progress on expansion of railway network from Udhampur to Katra and Qazigund to Baramulla here today.
The progress of work of connecting Jammu and Srinagar through railway network was also reviewed.
General Manager Northern Railway Mr. V. N. Mathur and other senior officers of railway, who attended the meeting, informed Chief Minister that during end of this year Baramulla-Qazigund railway track will be fully operationalized and Udhampur-Katra will also be made operational during the current year.
Chief Minister was informed that Srinagar-Jammu railway track will pass through 45 tunnels of which Banihal rail tunnel will be 11 km long. He was informed that at present work on 12 tunnels is in progress.
Mr. Azad was also informed that 50 stations have been identified on this track and Rs 120 crore shall be transferred to Jammu and Kashmir State PWD for construction of approach roads to these stations and tunnels.
Chief Minister advised Secretary R&B Mr. Shailendra Kumar to immediately take up the matter for construction of all approach roads to identified tunnels and stations so that work for creating necessary infrastructure is taken up on priority basis.
Chief Minister said that he has already emphasized on civil aviation ministry to ensure operation of international airport at Srinagar equipped with all modern and international standard infrastructure during current year. He said with the simultaneous operation of international airport and Srinagar-Baramulla and Udhampur-Katra railway tracks, a new fillip can be given to boost the economical, trade, commerce and tourist activities in the state.
Chief Minister advised railway authorities that they should ensure both in Jammu as well in Kashmir railway staff is recruited from local residents so that it also helps to absorbing unemployed youth in the railway services.
Mr. Azad advised railways that keeping in view environmental beauty and captivating landscape between Baramulla-Qazigund and Udhampur-Katra, special coaches with attractive transparent glasses of international standard, as are available in Switzerland, should be introduced in set of the coaches so that tourists as well as local people while travelling through this railway enjoy the beauty of nature as well.
Chief Minister said that the people of Jammu and Kashmir State are considered throughout the world the best entrepreneurs, tradesmen, tourist lovers and have born capabilities to have efficient commerce and trade activities at national and international levels.
He said that the flowers with high quality of beauty and fragrance in valley, if air flown to any international market without any transport delay, shall fetch millions of dollars to the growers. Similarly, railway and air linkage near to all tourist destinations shall prove very effective for attracting more and more tourists.
Mr. Azad apprised the concerned senior level officers of the railway that since he took over as Chief Minister of the state, he has been continuously monitoring work on both international airport as well as on different railway tracks of the state. He expressed his happiness that his dream is now translating into action and people of the state will be able to utilize the best and efficient air traffic as well as railway linkage this year.
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