Centre halts 3 proposed railway projects in Kashmir

Srinagar, Feb 03: The Centre on Tuesday said that three proposed railway projects in Kashmir have been put on hold following objections from locals and elected representatives, who raised concerns over large-scale land acquisition and its impact on apple orchards.

According to news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said that there is already a railway line from Srinagar to Baramulla, and there was a demand to set up three more railway lines.

“Later, the Jammu and Kashmir government and Members of Parliament raised concerns that these lines must not be set up as these would have impacted apple orchards significantly. Now, the government has decided to put these proposed protects on hold,” he said.

The decision comes amid protests by apple growers and residents in Pulwama, Shopian and Anantnag districts, voicing concern that these projects would affect the agricultural and horticultural land, damage orchards, and lead to displacement of families.

Several protest demonstrations were held over the past months, with locals demanding rerouting of the projects, fair compensation, and consultation before any land acquisition.