Udhampur-Jammu train to chug in development: PM

Kashmir's status an impediment to growth, needs review: Singh

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh wants things to change in Kashmir. Today he flagged off the first train connecting Udhampur to rest of the country in the first phase of the project that will provide a rail link to the Kashmir Valley.

He also made a radical suggestion that Jammu and Kashmir had their own laws, "but such changes (as the operation of panchayati raj institutions) have not yet been brought about in them. I would urge the J&K Assembly to consider amending the law so that this state marches towards progress hand in hand with other states of the country."

This is the first indication that the constitutionally protected status of governance of Kashmir was proving an impediment to its development and needed to be reviewed.

Inaugurating the Sampark Kranti Express at the Udhampur railway station, the Prime Minister announced that the first train into the Kashmir Valley would start by 2007 when construction of the rail track from Jammu to Baramulla via Udhampur, Katra, Qazigund and Srinagar was completed.

The train will be heavily policed - 50 watch towers and two sniffer dogs with minders along throughout its 54 km journey to Jammu- reminding passengers that normalcy is still a long way away in J&K. But nevertheless it will be a big step in the integration of the people in the Valley with the country.

But the Prime Minister's remark that the Constitution had, through the 73rd, 74th amendments and the Panchayati Raj Act, taken democracy to the grassroot level and that J&K had its own laws could spark off protests

The 54 km Udhampur-Jammu broad guage railway line, an engineering marvel passing through several tunnels and bridges over deep gorges and rivers built at the cost of Rs 515 crore, was inaugurated amid tight security in the presence of Railway Minister Lalu Prasad, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, Jammu and Kashmir Governor SK Sinha and Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed.

"This is a big step towards bringing about development and progress of the state," the Prime Minister said before pressing the button and waving the green flag to launch the train.

Singh voiced confidence that with the completion of this most difficult part of the Jammu-Baramulla rail track, the first train passing through the mighty Pir Panjal range would start running in 2007 making it easier and cheaper way for tourists and goods to move in and out of the Valley.

He said the government had earmarked Rs 1,000 crore for the ambitious project, which was aimed at boosting development of the state through trade and tourism.

The foundation stone of the Udhampur-Jammu rail line was laid in 1983 by then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. The Prime Minister opened the rail link six days after he inaugurated the historic bus service between Srinagar and Muzaffarabad in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir.

The Prime Minister also announced that the railway track between Jammu and Jalandhar in Punjab would be doubled as part of the national project.

"These development projects are being speeded up to pave way for progress of the state. We will leave no stone unturned," he said asserting that the government was determined to usher in development in the state braving terrorism and other security challenges.