Jammu, Apr 30: Union Minister of State in PMO Dr Jitendra Singh Thursday asserted that it was only the Prime Minister Narendra Modi who enabled “landmark direct rail connectivity between Jammu and Srinagar.”
He was addressing the gathering at Jammu Railway Station during the event related to Srinagar-Jammu extended train flagging-off ceremony.
Union Minister for Railways and Information & Broadcasting, Ashwini Vaishnaw flagged off extended train in the presence of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Dr Jitendra and Members of Parliament Sat Paul Sharma and Gulam Ali Khatana, besides other dignitaries.
While expressing gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Dr Jitendra recalled that although the railway network had reached Jammu as early as 1972, its further expansion into the Kashmir valley remained stalled for over four decades.
He noted that significant progress was achieved in recent years, with railway infrastructure now being developed in Jammu and Kashmir at par with the rest of the country under the leadership of the Prime Minister.
He said that commencement of the augmented 20-coach Jammu–Srinagar Vande Bharat Express marked a landmark achievement in the ongoing efforts to transform rail connectivity in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
Dr Jitendra said that the introduction of the direct train service between Jammu and Kashmir was set to significantly enhance ease of travel, improve logistics efficiency and promote ease of doing business across the region. He said the commencement of the Vande Bharat Express between Jammu and Srinagar fulfilled a long-standing aspiration of the people of the region.
The Minister emphasised that improved rail connectivity was expected to lead to a substantial rise in pilgrim inflow to important destinations in the region, while also facilitating seamless and efficient movement of security personnel. He highlighted that enhanced connectivity would reduce travel time, improve access to remote areas, and integrate local economies more closely with national markets.
Underscoring the economic significance of the project, the Minister stated that the new rail service would play a pivotal role in strengthening supply chains and reducing transportation costs for essential commodities and local produce.
Highlighting the cultural and tourism potential, Dr Jitendra Singh said, “The rail corridor passes through some of the most picturesque and previously less accessible locations, including areas such as Sangaldan in Ramban district which were not easily accessible earlier. With improved accessibility, these scenic destinations are likely to witness increased tourist footfall and renewed interest from filmmakers.”
He observed that Jammu and Kashmir had historically been a favoured destination for film shooting. “The new connectivity is expected to revive that legacy by making remote and pristine locations more reachable,” he said.
Recalling earlier milestones, Dr Jitendra Singh mentioned that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had personally visited the region to inaugurate the Mata Vaishno Devi Railway Station soon after assuming office in 2014, reflecting the government’s continued focus on improving connectivity and infrastructure in the region. Later, the Minister travelled on the Vande Bharat Express with Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw to visit Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra Railway Station.
Speaking to reporters, Dr Jitendra stated that this was like a pilot rail project, given its technological sophistication and execution in challenging Himalayan terrain and was perhaps the first-of-its-kind in the world.
He informed that the experience and learnings from this project would be replicated in other hilly and mountainous regions, including Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, and the Northeastern States.
He also expressed his gratitude to the Union Minister for Railways and Information and Broadcasting, Ashwini Vaishnaw for his constant support and for addressing and fulfilling all requirements related to the project.
Afterwards, Dr Jitendra also accompanied Vaishnaw for inspection of Anji bridge and Chenab bridge along the Vande Bharat Express route.
