India set to increase links to border region with Pakistan

Kashmir, which has seen decades of unrest, has had no direct rail connection with rest of the country 

Indian Railways is set to launch five trains connecting Jammu and Kashmir, a contested region bordering Pakistan, to the rest of India. The rail link will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in January, Hindustan Times reported on Thursday. 

A cargo train successfully completed a trial run on the 17-kilometer Katra-Reasi section of the railway on Wednesday, according to reports, and further testing will be carried out on January 5 as part of an assessment of the link’s overall readiness, according to officials.  

This move comes amid New Delhi’s efforts to integrate Kashmir into the country’s economy by improving connectivity and providing opportunities for developing trade and tourism, given the region’s potential to attract both domestic and international travelers. 

Adding to the region’s infrastructural transformation, the prime minister is also expected to unveil a 6.5-kilometer two-lane road tunnel linking Sonamarg, a station on a hill known for its picturesque landscape, with the town of Kangan in Kashmir. 

Announcing the completion of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla section of the railway link earlier this month, Indian Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw described it as a “historic milestone.” The project, initially conceived in the 1990s, involved the construction of several tunnels and bridges in Kashmir’s mountainous terrain. This included the world’s highest railway bridge, which stands 359 meters above the Chenab riverbed, making it 35 meters taller than the Eiffel Tower.  

Read more

Once the rail link is operational, it will not only connect Kashmir’s major cities to the Indian capital and other regions but will also improve access to a Hindu shrine located near Katra in Jammu and Kashmir, one of India’s most sacred pilgrimage sites. 

Indian Railways has upgraded several trains, including the semi-high-speed Vande Bharat, tailoring them for deployment on the Jammu-Kashmir route to withstand the region’s harsh weather conditions. “Passenger safety will also be a top priority, with airport-style security checks introduced at boarding stations,” an official was quoted by Hindustan Times as saying. 

Earlier this year, Kashmir, which has been at the center of a decades-long dispute between India and Pakistan, held a state legislative election — the first in nearly a decade. It was also the first following a decision in 2019 by Modi’s government to abrogate Article 370 of the Indian Constitution, which granted a degree of administrative autonomy to the Muslim-majority region. The recent election was viewed as key to restoring normalcy in a region that has experienced terrorism, militancy, and attempted incursions. New Delhi considers improving connectivity within the region and linking it to the rest of the country vital for restoring stability to the area.

READ MORE: Battling deadly avalanches and blizzards: A look into India’s infrastructure marvel along its Himalayan borders