Delhi To Kashmir Direct Train In Trials Completed, Concerning Kashmir Residents

Delhi To Kashmir Direct Train: Highlights

• The new railway connects two stations: Katra and Srinagar.
• India’s Prime Minister Modi will officially open the new route next month.
• Once it opens, people will be able to take a train all the way from New Delhi to Srinagar, the main city in Kashmir.
• The full journey will take about 13 hours to cover the 500-mile distance. 
• This project, the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Railway Link (USBRL) has been in the works for 30 years and took an estimated cost of over $4 billion to build.

Earlier in January, Prime Minister Modi virtually launched the new railway office in Jammu that will run the Delhi-Srinagar trains. 

Modi called this new train route a very important moment for connecting different parts of India. He said linking Kashmir to India’s national railway system is a big step forward.

Delhi To Kashmir Test Train Features 

The railway safety chief, Dinesh Chand Deshwal, was pleased with the results, saying this marks an important moment for Indian Railways using top-notch technology.

• The test train had 22 parts: 18 passenger cars with air conditioning, 2 storage cars, and 2 engines.
• The route is quite remarkable, crossing 943 bridges, including the world’s highest railway bridge (Chenab Bridge), and going through 38 tunnels.
• The train is specially built to handle tough winter weather in Jammu and Kashmir. It has strong heaters to keep water from freezing and special windshields that clear ice automatically.

Why Is The Delhi To Kashmir Train Trial A Concern?

Local residents like Mukhtar Ahmad, who runs a shop in Srinagar, are worried. He says people are worried that their culture and businesses might be affected. Some business owners are concerned because the train will bypass routes that local shops and services currently depend on.

Some locals also worry that the railway might make it easier for the government to gain more control. 

“We need to see what happens in the coming months,” Ahmad said.

Suggested Read: Mumbai-Pune Expressway 3 Hour Traffic Block

Suggested Read: Dense Fog Disrupts Trains And Flight Services In Delhi

Suggested Read: Delhi Airport Flight Operations Restrictions Till Jan 26

Suggested Read: Major Fire Accident At Maha Kumbh: 18 Tents Blew Up