Authorities must engage with stakeholders before proceeding with a railway line to Pahalgam: Altaf Bukhari

Srinagar, Dec 01: Jammu & Kashmir Apni Party (JKAP) president Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari on Sunday urged the authorities to engage with all stakeholders regarding the proposed Anantnag-Bijbehara-Pahalgam rail project.

He stated that the affected individuals, who stand to lose their land due to this project, are dissatisfied, while environmental experts have also raised concerns as the project passes through fertile lands and forested areas.

Bukhari wrote on his X handle: “People whose land falls under the proposed Anantnag-Bijbehara-Pahalgam (77.5 km) rail project are unhappy and have resorted to protests. Concerns have grown, particularly since the tender for the Final Location Survey (FLS) for this railway line was issued. Most of the affected farmers, who stand to lose their land—mostly orchards and agricultural plots—are small landowners.”

He added, “Experts have also raised concerns about the environmental impact of the project, as it involves laying the railway line through fertile farmland and forested areas. Above all, there has never been a public demand for a railway line to Pahalgam. The concerned authorities must engage with all stakeholders before making any decisions regarding this matter. No decision should be imposed on the people.”