'Rail link to Kashmir sparks new hope for tourism sector'

Srinagar, May 17: As the operation of the Delhi–Srinagar rail service is likely to begin soon, tourism stakeholders in the Kashmir Valley are calling it a turning point for the region’s travel industry.

Among the most prominent voices hailing this development is Haji Khazir Mohammad Dar, a veteran travel operator and founder of M/s Khazir Travels Pvt. Ltd., who has long championed the need for improved connectivity to boost tourism in Jammu and Kashmir.

Describing the newly operational railway route as a “crucial step forward,” Dar said the service will not only ease travel for tourists but also enhance trade and regional connectivity.

“For years, I have urged both central and state governments to prioritise a railway link from Delhi to Srinagar via Katra. Now that this long-pending demand has taken shape, the entire tourism sector feels a renewed sense of hope,” Dar told reporters in Srinagar.

According to Dar, the launch of the train, which now allows passengers from Delhi to reach Katra and onward to Srinagar within hours, will significantly cut travel time and costs—two major factors that often deterred potential tourists from visiting the Valley.

“The journey from Katra to Srinagar will now take just four hours. This convenience will attract more visitors, particularly those from northern India, and give our tourism sector the much-needed revival it deserves,” he said.

Dar, who has received multiple accolades for his contribution to Kashmir’s travel industry, recalled his early advocacy for rail connectivity.

He also urged authorities to consider complementary improvements in local transport, especially road networks and air travel facilities.

“Air travel must be made more affordable, and ticket rates need to be moderated to suit both locals and tourists,” he said. “Additionally, infrastructure like the footbridge over the Jhelum near Convent School should be upgraded and opened for vehicular traffic to ease congestion in Srinagar.”