Srinagar, Feb 3: The proposed railway projects linking Anantnag with Pahalgam and Shopian have been halted, Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced on Tuesday, citing strong opposition from elected representatives and the Jammu and Kashmir government over environmental and livelihood concerns.
The Railway Minister said the decision to put the proposed rail tracks on hold was taken after Members of Parliament and the Union Territory government raised objections, particularly highlighting the impact the projects could have on apple orchards and agricultural land in south Kashmir.
According to the minister, concerns were expressed that the proposed alignments would pass through orchard belts, leading to large-scale damage to apple trees, which form the backbone of the local economy. The objections, he said, were taken seriously during consultations.
The minister said the railways would not proceed with projects that face unanimous resistance from local representatives and governments, especially when livelihoods of inhabitants are at stake. He added that protecting horticulture and minimizing displacement were key considerations in the decision.
The proposed Anantnag–Pahalgam and Anantnag–Shopian rail links were envisioned to improve connectivity in south Kashmir, but the strong pushback from political representatives stalled further progress on the plans.
No fresh timeline or alternative alignment has been announced so far, with officials indicating that the projects will remain halted unless a broad consensus is reached. (KNT)
