Now it is time for NC Congress J&K Government to take up Jammu Poonch Rail project with Centre for start as ‘National Project’
DAYA SAGAR
Member Parliament from Jammu-Poonch and senior BJP leader Jugal Kishore Sharma had on 15th March 2022 while appreciating 2022-23 Union Railway Budget as pro far flung area with huge amount of Rs 140367.13 crores for the development of Railways in the country had requested thatsince survey for laying of Jammu to Rajouri and Poonch railway line had been completed so provision of funds should be made available soon for laying that new railway line. People of J&K have been since very hopefully waiting to see the inauguration of the laying of the project. But as per information shared by a senior RTI Activist Sh. Raman Sharma of J&K in response to his RTI applications in 2022 the Jammu- Poonch rail project is said to have been ‘shelved’/ not taken ahead by Railway Board since project had been found financially unviable .Application of Raman Sharma dated 26-02-2022 wasreplied 08-03-22 s/d Director Project Management & CPIO < Survey of new broad gauge line between Jammu and Poonch ( 223km) was completed in 2018. As per survey report the project was unviable. As such the project could not be taken forward.>and Application of Raman Sharma dated 12-03-2022 was replied 15-03-2022 s/d & CPIO < Survey for new line Jammu to Poonch was completed in 2017-18. The project could not be taken forward being economically unviable. Presently there is no proposal under consideration on this line. The survey has been shelved with the approval of Railway Board.
It was on 7th Jan 2025 that LG J&K Shri Manoj Sinha, expressing gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for dedicating the new Jammu Railway Division, was quoted as having said on 6 Jan 2025 that enhanced connectivity was unlocking J&K’s potential and DPR is under examination for new line between Baramulla-Uri (46kms), Baramulla-Kupwara (39kms), Jammu-Poonch via Akhnoor- Rajouri (223kms), Manwal-Talra via Ramkote, Billawar and Dunera (117kms), Sopore-Kupwara (37kms), Pathankot-Leh (664kms), Bilaspur-Manali-Leh (489kms) and doubling of Baramulla-Banihal line where as surveys were ongoing for the Anantnag-Bijbehara-Pahalgam (78km) and Awantipora-Shopian (28kms) rail lines. And now on March 28, 2025 in a written reply to unstarred Q 3314 by Rajay Sabha MP Shri Gulam Ali from Jammu & Kashmir asking < “Will the Minister of Railways be pleased to state: (a) whether Government has a proposal to establish railway connectivity to Jammu-Rajouri-Poonch? and (b) if so, the towns to be connected under the project and the proposed timelines?” > Railway Minister Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw has been quoted as having said on 28-03-2025 that a survey for a new 223-km rail line between Jammu and Poonch via Akhnoor and Rajouri was carried out and the project cost was assessed as Rs 22,771 crore but it has low traffic projections. Before that according to PTI input of 17 Mar 2025 it was also reported that 223- km Jammu-Poonch railway line project had been shelved ‘again’ for being ‘ financially unviable’ by the central government as per the information given by The Ministry of Railways in response to two applications filed by Jammu-based activist Raman Sharma under the Right To Information (RTI) Act for which the final survey report ( estimated cost of Rs 22,771 crore ) for laying broad-gauge line between Jammu & border district of Poonch via Rajouri was submitted in 2018 . In was on 13 March 2025 also that the Railway Minister was quoted as having said in Lok Sabha that Rajouri and Poonch districts continue to lack railway connectivity and there was no immediate plans to prioritize a rail link between Reasi-Katra and Rajouri; a survey for a new Jammu-Poonch rail line via Akhnoor and Rajouri (223 km) had been completed earlier, with an estimated cost of Rs 22,771 crore and that had not moved forward due to low passenger demand
Earlier also Railway Minister Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw had said in Lok Sabha on 31-07-2024 that a survey for the railway line between Jammu and Poonch via Akhnoor and Rajouri was carried out, and the cost of the 223 km long project was assessed at Rs 22,771 crore and while responding to a question raised by Anantnag-Rajouri MP Mian Altaf from J&K about the Government’s plans to connect the twin districts of Rajouri- Poonch by way of railway he did not quote any plans for implementing the project .
5It is not out of place to mention here that in was as far back as 2012 ( 22-03-2012 ) that the then Railway Minister Shri Mukul Roy while replying to the Railway Budget in Lok Sabha had said that the Jammu- Poonch rail link that will pass through treacherous hilly areas was first approved during the UPA-1 times when Lalu Prasad Yadav was the Minister and a survey was also got conducted by him which was a long pending project of a railway line via historic township of Akhnoor which will finally see light of the day with Centre deciding to include it in the list of national projects which are under this category are taken up on priority with special financial provisions. The then Jammu-Poonch MP, Shri Madan Lal Sharma had said in 2012 that in the earlier year’s Budget also it had been decided to include the project in the 12th five year plan as it was an important rail link that would connect strategic areas all along the Line of Control. Shri Madan Lal Sharma had in 2012 while welcoming listing the Jammu Poonch rail line project as a national project worth taking up on priority with special financial provisions had informed that Jammu- Poonch rial line will help in the economic development of large number of backward and hill areas in the region opening up new vistas of tourism in the historic Poonch and Rajouri districts and even in 2012 itself demanded that Jammu should be made the Divisional Headquarter of the Railways instead of Ferozepur suggesting that was necessary as with the growing railway network in J&K it will not be feasible to control the areas from Ferozepur.
The information that has been available in public domain all these years about Jammu- Poonch rail project has been giving sweet & bitter tastes to the common man and the J&K Government need to take up the matter with Central Government for taking up the execution immediately ( if not held back) and if there are any reservations that may be got dismissed keeping in view the truthful needs of such like projects which have been denied to these areas for decades even after independence . NC Election Manifesto-2024 on page -19 said “We will explore new tourist destination in J&K, including regions in Pir Panjal, Chenab, and other areas.”; on page 23 said “In pursuit of lasting peace, we will strive to revive LOC trade and explore possibilities for opening additional routes.”. Now it is time for the NC- Congress Omar Abdullah lead J&K Government to take up the Jammu Poonch Rail project with centre for start as first priority shedding all pleas like economic viability / low anticipated passenger traffic.
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(The writer is a Sr Journalist & a known analyst of J&K affairs)