SAHIL BHAT
JAMMU: In the historical landmark, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, on Thursday, while attending the flag-off ceremony of the Vande Bharat Express service from Jammu to Srinagar, made a strong pitch for the inland dry port to boost exports.
It is learnt that the train was flagged off by Union Minister for Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw in the presence of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science & Technology; Earth Sciences; MoS PMO, PP/DoPT, Atomic Energy, Space, Dr Jitendra Singh, Members of Parliament Sat Paul Sharma and Ghulam Ali Khatana, several MLAs, along with senior officials from the Government of India, Northern Railways and the Jammu and Kashmir administration.
Addressing the gathering prior to the flag-off ceremony, the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah described the occasion as “a day long-awaited by the people of Jammu and Kashmir.”
He laid emphasis on the fact that the extension of the Vande Bharat Express to Jammu signifies not just the improved connectivity, but the beginning of a transformative phase in the region’s development.
On the occasion, CM Omar extended greetings to the Union Government and the Railway Ministry. CM Omar recalled the inauguration of key infrastructure projects, including the iconic Chenab Railway Bridge and Anji Khad Bridge, nearly ten months ago and noted that what was once seen as a major engineering feat has now evolved into a highly popular and widely utilized mode of transport.
He further added that the demand has grown so significantly that the train’s capacity has been expanded from 8 coaches to 20 coaches, increasing passenger capacity from around 500 to nearly 1,400 in a single journey.
With two such trains operating, nearly 2,800 passengers will now be able to travel daily between Jammu and Srinagar, significantly easing travel and enhancing convenience.
Regarding inland dry port, Omar said such facility would enable customs clearance and streamline export processes within the region, eliminating the need to route goods through other cities.
“This will not only prove beneficial to businesses but also contribute to the country’s overall economic growth,” CM said.
Calling the day historic, the Chief Minister said that for the first time, people of Jammu and Kashmir can seamlessly travel between Jammu and Srinagar by train, restoring the faith in the road transport and significantly improving accessibility.
“This is the day we had been waiting for years,” he said. “Today, a dream has been realized. With this rail link, Jammu and Kashmir is more connected than ever before.”
