Tag: Chenab Bridge

‘Kashmir Vande Bharat Is A Welcome Step; But Many More Miles To Go’

By Lokmarg

Irat Bhat, a student from J&K pursuing her post-graduate degree in Aligarh Muslim University, says the new Vande Bharat rail link has been met with enthusiasm from Kashmiris. Her views

Will the all-weather Katra-Srinagar rail link help the people of Jammu and Kashmir? Yes. Absolutely. The completion of the rail link is a monumental development for Jammu and Kashmir. This all-weather connectivity is poised to significantly reduce travel time between Katra and Srinagar, cutting it from over five hours to approximately three. This improvement is especially beneficial for students and low-income travelers who often resort to expensive air travel or endure long, arduous bus journeys due to the frequent closure of the Jammu-Srinagar highway caused by landslides and weather conditions.

From a personal standpoint, I had eagerly awaited the commencement of this train service. However, by the time it began operations, I had already returned home. The delay in its launch affected my travel plans, compelling me to reroute my journey. Nonetheless, I believe this rail link will bring much-needed relief to many, offering a safer, more affordable, and efficient mode of transportation.

The sentiment among Kashmiris regarding the rail link is generally positive. The introduction of the Vande Bharat Express on this route has been met with enthusiasm, as evidenced by the overwhelming demand, with all seats booked for the first ten days of its operation.

As a Kashmiri who has traveled extensively by train across India and within the Kashmir Valley, I can attest to the comfort and safety of train journeys. However, during periods of instability, such as the recent tension between India and Pakistan, many of my peers and I opted against train travel due to safety concerns. Instances of harassment and discrimination faced by Kashmiris during such times have made us cautious about our travel choices.

Whether I will travel on this train in the future largely depends on the prevailing political and security situation. In times of peace and stability, I look forward to utilizing this service.

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The inauguration of the rail link was indeed a significant event, symbolizing progress and development. However, for many Kashmiris, the celebration of such milestones can feel disconnected from the realities on the ground. The region has faced numerous challenges, including restrictions on media freedom and the stigmatization of its people, especially students, in the aftermath of tragedies like the Pahalgam killings in which innocent tourists were killed by terrorists who escaped. Indeed, local citizens pitched in immediately and whole-heartedly to help the families, gave them shelter and food, and helped them reach their destinations safely.

While infrastructure development is essential, it is equally important to address the underlying issues of human rights, freedom of expression, and the well-being of the people. A balanced approach that considers both development and the restoration of rights would foster a more inclusive and harmonious environment in the entire state.

Public transportation in Jammu and Kashmir, particularly in high-altitude regions like Ladakh and Kargil, has historically been a challenge. The difficult terrain, coupled with frequent road blockages due to landslides and snow, has made commuting arduous over the years.

I recall an instance when I was stranded for over six hours on the Jammu National Highway due to a landslide. What should have been a morning’s journey extended into an entire day’s ordeal.

However, there have been positive developments. For instance, the introduction of electric buses in Kargil aims to provide eco-friendly and reliable transportation options.  These initiatives are steps in the right direction, but there is still much to be done to ensure seamless connectivity across the region.

As told to Amit Sengupta

Modi’s Kashmir Gesture Sneers At Pakistan

By Prosenjit Nath

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit to Kashmir the first since a deadly conflict with Pakistan marked a significant and highly symbolic moment in India’s modern political and strategic trajectory. In what is being called a bold political and infrastructural move, Modi inaugurated a major railway line through the contested Himalayan region, referring to Kashmir as “the crown jewel of India.”

This high-profile visit comes just weeks after the worst India-Pakistan confrontation in over two decades, a four-day military stand-off that took place in April and May. The conflict erupted following a deadly attack on Indian tourists in Kashmir on April 22, which New Delhi claims was orchestrated by Pakistan-backed militants an allegation Islamabad has denied. More than 70 lives were lost during the violent exchange of missile, drone, and artillery fire across the Line of Control, the de facto border dividing the two nations in the Kashmir region. A ceasefire was eventually reached on May 10, offering a temporary pause in tensions that have simmered since Partition in 1947.

Amid this volatile backdrop, Modi’s presence in Kashmir and his inauguration of a sweeping infrastructure initiative sent a clear signal not just to Pakistan, but to the global community of India’s unwavering grip over the disputed territory. The centrepiece of this message was the launch of the Chenab Bridge, touted by New Delhi as the “world’s highest railway arch bridge,” towering 359 metres (1,117 feet) above the riverbed. Certified by the Guinness World Records, the Chenab Bridge surpasses China’s Najiehe Railway Bridge and is a feat of engineering that has taken years to complete.

“This is a symbol and celebration of rising India,” Modi declared to an enthusiastic crowd, adding that the bridge and the larger rail project it anchors was a “grand festival of India’s unity and firm resolve.” Calling it an “extraordinary feat of architecture,” Modi highlighted its strategic significance: the bridge, part of a 272-km railway network, now connects Udhampur, Srinagar, and Baramulla. This route includes 36 tunnels and 943 bridges, effectively slicing travel time between Katra in the Jammu region and Srinagar in Kashmir to just three hours.

While the project is a major logistical breakthrough, it is also a calculated strategic move. For decades, access to Kashmir’s mountainous terrain was limited to dangerous mountain roads and intermittent air routes. The new rail line will significantly ease the movement of civilians and goods, and importantly military personnel and equipment. In a region where terrain has long been a tactical factor in conflict scenarios, this enhanced connectivity reshapes the strategic calculus.

Pakistan, which also claims Kashmir in full but controls only part of it, is unlikely to remain passive in response to Modi’s actions. Speaking at the rally, the Indian Prime Minister did not mince words. “Pakistan will never forget… its shameful loss,” he said, referring to the recent military exchanges. His rhetoric, deeply infused with nationalist sentiment, resonated with his political base while sending a clear warning to India’s adversaries.

The Modi administration’s aggressive infrastructure push in Kashmir is not confined to railways. The prime minister also announced additional financial aid for families affected by the recent conflict those who lost loved ones or whose homes were damaged during the shelling along the Line of Control. “Their troubles are our troubles,” Modi said, underlining the government’s commitment to rebuilding lives in the region.

This visit, and the projects unveiled during it, reflect more than just domestic development goals. They signify a strategic intent to solidify India’s control over Kashmir not only through military presence or legal measures but also by integrating it economically and logistically with the rest of the country.

For Modi, whose Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has consistently advocated for a hardline stance on Kashmir, the railway inauguration was more than a ceremonial ribbon-cutting. It was a declaration of purpose. The message is unequivocal: Kashmir is and will remain an integral part of India. Infrastructure development is now the frontline of this assertion.

Yet, the risks remain. Kashmir continues to simmer with unrest, not only from cross-border threats but also from within. For 70years, rebel groups have waged an insurgency against Indian rule, demanding either independence or union with Pakistan. The improved transport links may make troop deployments easier, but they also increase the risk of sabotage and raise questions about how security will be maintained over such a vast and newly connected area.

Nonetheless, Modi’s Kashmir visit is a defining moment. By physically striding across the Chenab Bridge to inaugurate it for rail traffic, he demonstrated his government’s resolve to transform the region not just symbolically, but structurally. It was, in essence, a bridge between India’s turbulent past in Kashmir and its aspirational future.

Whether this bold infrastructural and political initiative will bring lasting peace, greater economic integration, or more friction with Pakistan remains to be seen. But what is undeniable is that Modi has redrawn the map not just in engineering terms, but in geopolitical ones.