SRI NAGAR: Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw today, March 25 said the Kashmir valley’s rail connectivity with the rest of the country will be commenced by 2024 and the rail network in the valley will be expanded up to the Line of Control.
Union minister Vaishnaw, who took stock of the Budgam-Baramulla rail link, said: “Jammu & Kashmir will have Vande Bharat Express trains by 2024 as Jammu-Srinagar rail link will be opened this year only,” 
The Minister announced that Kupwara, a frontier region near the Line of Control , would be one of the special locations where rail connectivity will be increased.

"A thorough discussion over the doubling of lines in Baramulla is currently taking place. In this line, there are still three connections to make. On this route, numerous projects have been finished. Work on electrification is almost complete. With the LG (Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha), we'll also talk about extending the line to the LoC," Vaishnaw said.

The Indian Railways has plans to enhance parcel services, double lines, telephone connectivity, cement, and pharmaceutical trade. By year's end, these services would be guaranteed. Apple trading facilities will also be taken into consideration, the Minister continued.

Vaishnaw is in Kashmir for a two-day visit to look at the railway projects. He will meet Lt Governor Sinha to go through the expansion plans for the future.

Everything such as  snow, temperature has been kept in mind while manufacturing this special train. Once the railway line is opened, you can enjoy the ‘Vande Bharat’ train in the middle of 2024,” the minister said.

He went on to say that  a demand has been received for connecting three key areas viz. Awantipora-Shopian, Sopore-Kupwara  and Bijbehara-Pahalgam with the railway line, and the Railways will discuss it. “We will mull over the matter with J-K Lt Governor, and then with Union Home minister Amit Shah and Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” he said.

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