A historical moment
What else could have Kashmir Valley got as an Eid gift from no other than the Prime Minister Narendra Modi as an all season rail connectivity to the region promising new avenues for growth and development became a reality. .
Considered as one of the modern wonders the 272 Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project constructed worth around Rs 43,780 crore includes 36 tunnels (spanning 119 km) and 943 bridges was officially inaugurated today by Prime Minister Modi. The project establishes all-weather, seamless rail connectivity between the Kashmir Valley and the rest of the country aiming to transform regional mobility and driving socio-economic integration.
Besides, the Prime Minister also flagged off two Vande Bharat Express trains from Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra to Srinagar and back. The trains offer a swift, comfortable, and reliable travel option for residents, tourists, pilgrims among others.
The historical inauguration has meant that Kashmir regions troubles with connectivity with the rest of the country are over now. The sectors like trade, tourism and transportation can experience new panoramas of growth and development.
The region which has a vast production of handicrafts, horticultural and agricultural products can now rely on connecting to the huge markets that too without any hassles and increased cost.
The tourism sector too can witness a boom as the visitors can reach their destination on time and that too without spending hefty amounts and burning their pockets.
Kashmir Valley has been for long plagued with industrial inactivity. Even though thousands of units have been established in the region but these units have been witnessing stagnation or stunted growth owing to lack of market outreach.
Now their troubles will ease even though the process of establishing a full-fledged mechanism in this regard may take some more time. But the important thing is that a process has been kick-started and it is only a matter of few years and months before mechanisms are put in place.
Kashmir is all along been considered a heaven on earth and the education sectors has always dreamt of establishing world class institutions of learning here owing to the viable and favourable environments here that are suited for the students to pursue their studies.
However, investors had been holding back their investments and plans for setting up institutions owing to lack of connectivity to the region. Now that the issue of connectivity has been resolved it is only a matter of time before such activities become a reality in Kashmir.
The activity that is expected to kick-start after the commissioning of the rail line will spell a new era of development in the region. What is needed is that polies are framed in such a way that investors feel ease of doing business here and the region takes a step forward towards development and prosperity.
