Checking passengers OK, train transfer pointless: CM

Srinagar, Jan 12: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Sunday said that while taking safety measures was understandable, making passengers change the train at Katra would defeat the very purpose of the train to Kashmir.

“Just to remove any chance of any misunderstanding, while we understand the need to secure the train and the passengers who will travel using it, making passengers change trains will defeat the very purpose of the line and render the thousands of crores of investment pointless,” CM Omar posted on microblogging site X. “Check the train passengers in Katra or Jammu sure but NO change of train will be supported by us. That said there is no concrete proposal and when there is we will give our inputs and suggestions.”

Earlier, talking to reporters, he termed the security of passengers as a “priority”.

“If there are security concerns, then I don’t think there should be any objections. After all, whosoever travels by train wishes for their safety and security, and so do we,” the CM said.

He said that until the region achieves complete normalcy, such measures should be acceptable.

“If it’s to avert any threat then it’s fine. At the end of the day, safety must come first,” CM Omar said. “It’s ultimately up to the railway authorities to decide and I hope whatever decision they take is made keeping the people in mind.”