Train to Kashmir
Jammu-Srinagar Vande Bharat Express Services has become a lifeline for people in the union territory. More than 45,000 passengers have travelled by this train in the first 10 days of its run. On April 30, Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw flagged off the 20-coach Jammu Tawi-Srinagar Vande Bharat Express. In the maiden week of its run, the train services hosted 28,762 passengers. The two pairs of Vande Bharat services operating on the corridor run six days a week except Tuesdays. Together, they ensure that the crucial Jammu–Kashmir corridor is served by 4 train services a day, at least five days a week. Each Tuesday and Wednesday, 2 train services also continuously serve the high-demand route, offering to-and-fro movement for locals, tourists, pilgrims, and traders alike. Weekends have seen the sharpest surge in demand, with Saturday and Sunday alone accounting for nearly 11,000 passengers. On May 10 itself, the occupancy was a whopping 98.21 per cent, a figure that points squarely to the tourism potential this corridor is already beginning to unlock. Pilgrims, students, government officials, and traders between Jammu and Srinagar travel without a break in their journey for the first time. Tourists who once found the Valley logistically challenging now ride through the engineering marvels of the Chenab and Anji bridges from the comfort of a Vande Bharat seat. Crucially, the train is engineered to operate in temperatures as low as minus 20 degree Celsius, making it a dependable all-weather artery when snowfall and landslides render the national highway impassable for days at a stretch. The Vande Bharat is also the most affordable option on the corridor. A Chair Car ticket, meals included, costs a fraction of what a budget airline charges for the same journey, while even the cheapest one-way flight comes in at a significantly higher price. A shared cab per seat costs more, and a private taxi several times more still, with no protection against highway disruptions. The Jammu-Srinagar Vande Bharat does not merely connect two cities; it takes you through one of the most picturesque rail routes in the world. Having said this, the government should not only press more trains but also ensure stops at Chenab Bridge and other places of importance en route. A selfie point at the highest bridge can make it more attractive. The Modi government has done so much for Jammu and Kashmir. Yet it should also start connecting Srinagar directly to Delhi and other places. It will ensure affordability and increase the tourist footfall. Air travel is costly for middle-class families, and traveling by highway is unpredictable. The train can overcome all these challenges and boost our tourism sector.