Jammu, April 30: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday pitched the new Vande Bharat Express as a potential game-changer for the Union Territory’s trade — not just for passengers, but for freight moving on the same tracks.
Flagging off the train at Jammu railway station, CM Omar Abdullah pointed to cement, cars, and Kashmiri fruits as early examples of cargo that could now move reliably by rail.
“The speciality of this train is that it has not only enabled people like us to travel but has also facilitated transport of goods such as cement. I was surprised to see cars being transported to Srinagar and fruits from Kashmir by rail,” he said.
Thanking Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and the Centre, the Chief Minister said the long-awaited rail link offered a cost-effective alternative to road transport.
But he added that to fully unlock its potential, J&K needed an inland (dry) port.
“That is where the real benefit to business and trade will come,” Abdullah said. “I request that an inland port be set up in J&K. There is an urgent need for a dry port here so that we do not require customs clearance in other cities for our goods, which we want to export from here.”
Customs clearance, he said, must happen within the UT itself. “This will prove to be very beneficial for Jammu and Kashmir.”
The Chief Minister also noted that the train’s popularity had exceeded all expectations. “I had never expected the railway line to become so popular that I would have to seek favours to reserve seats. Thankfully, it has been expanded from eight bogies to 20. Earlier 500 passengers travelled, now 1,400 can. This is a huge thing for us.”
With the Vande Bharat now connecting Jammu and Srinagar directly, Abdullah said the days of travelling via Katra by road were over.
“For so many years, we had been waiting to travel by train from Jammu to Srinagar. Now, that wait is over.”
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