The Banihal-Quazigund railway section,
providing all-weather surface link to Kashmir valley, was inaugurated by Prime
Minister Manmohan Singh and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday in
Kashmir. They jointly flagged off the first train on the 18-km-long section
between Banihal in Jammu and Qazigund in Kashmir, marking start of the service.
While speaking on the occasion Sonia Gandhi
said that the Congress-led UPA Government at the centre believes in inclusive
growth. “UPA Government at the centre believes in inclusive growth. We also
take measures for welfare and upliftment of the people at far-flung areas who
are deprived off basic facilities. This was the vision for ‘Bharat Nirman’ of
late Prime Minister Jawahar Lal Nehru, who had drafted a road-map for the
modern India. Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi followed his foot- steps. The UPA Government
at centre under the leadership of Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh also has
been following this vision of development” said the Congress President.
The UPA Chairperson also praised the Omar
Abdullah led government in the state. “The National Conference (NC)-Congress
coalition government in the state has initiated several development processes
to transform the state. The people also are appreciating these efforts. The
turn-out in the recently held Panchayat elections in the state undoubtedly prove
that the people of this state are fed up with the violence and they want to
live in peace and harmony” said Sonia Gandhi.
“The youth here want good education, better
job opportunities and a bright career. Similarly, the Kashmiri women want to be
self-reliant and they look for positive changes in their daily life. The UPA
Government has therefore launched schemes like HIMAYAT and UMEED”, she added.
“The people of Kashmir have the potential
and talent to surge ahead and to build a bright future. We need to continue our
efforts for development, based on secularism and inclusiveness. We will stand by the people of Kashmir and
will together work to ensure their good future” assured Sonia Gandhi while
concluding her speech.
Railway Minister Mallikarjun Kharge, Jammu
and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah along with Union Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad were also present on the
historic occasion.
The Banihal-Qazigund rail section, which
includes an 11-km-long Pir Panjal tunnel, will reduce the distance from 35 km (by
road) to 18 km. It has been constructed at a cost of Rs 1,691 crore. The tunnel
is the biggest in India and Asia's second longest after China's Wushaoling. The
tunnel link will also provide an alternative link to the existing Jawahar
Tunnel and will eventually make the Valley accessible by train through the
Jammu-Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla railway route. An eight-coach train will
start regular operations from Banihal to Baramulla from June 27. The tunnel has
been constructed at an estimated cost of Rs. 1,300
crore and taken almost seven years to complete. It has been constructed using
New Austrian Tunnelling Method, which has been used for the first time on such
a large scale in India. This rail section is very significant as it will
provide an all-weather link to Kashmir valley which often gets cut off from the
rest of the country due to snowfall during winters.
The Banihal-Baramulla-Banihal train will
make five trips daily beginning at 7.10 AM from Banihal and 7.35 AM from
Baramulla. Passengers travelling by train from Kashmir valley to Banihal can
avail bus service from there till Udhampur where train service is available for
rest of the country.
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