Srinagar, February 6: Former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir and PDP leader Mehbooba Mufti expressed gratitude to Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw for the decision to temporarily suspend three proposed railway projects in the Kashmir Valley. She urged for the existing routes of these projects to be canceled and realigned through barren and non-arable land to develop a dedicated fruit corridor, ensuring the livelihood of farmers is protected.
In her letter, Mufti stated that the announcement to halt the railway projects has provided significant relief to millions of agricultural families whose livelihoods were directly threatened. She emphasized that agriculture and horticulture are the backbone of Kashmir’s economy, with nearly two-thirds of the valley’s population relying on these sectors, despite cultivable land constituting only a small fraction of the total geographical area.
Mufti reiterated that agriculture and horticulture support approximately two-thirds of the population, yet the cultivable land in the valley is limited. In recent years, highway, bypass, and ring road projects have already consumed large portions of fertile land, reducing the space available for farmers. Although the temporary suspension of these railway projects offers some respite, uncertainty regarding their future continues to trouble farming families, jeopardizing their long-term investments.
She noted that, like the rest of India, Kashmir is predominantly rural, with most farmers owning small plots of land and lacking alternative sources of income. This situation exacerbates the already high unemployment rates among educated youth, forcing families to rely solely on agriculture for their sustenance. In recent years, farmers have shifted towards more productive and capital-intensive farming practices. The mere suspension of these projects leaves farmers anxious that their hard-earned investments may go to waste. Therefore, it is crucial to terminate these projects in their current form and replan them to safeguard precious arable land. Such a move would not only alleviate current concerns but also protect the livelihoods of nearly 1.5 million families.
Mufti clarified that farmers are not against railway connectivity. On the contrary, there is an urgent need for a reliable rail network to establish a dedicated fruit corridor, especially given the uncertainties and frequent disruptions on national highways. However, development should be balanced with sustainability. It should prioritize the use of barren and non-arable land rather than destroying less productive cultivable land. Thus, a reevaluation and realignment of railway projects on less productive land is timely.
She further requested the expansion of railway connectivity to the Chenab Valley and Pir Panjal regions of Jammu and Kashmir. These resource-rich and strategically important areas have long suffered due to unreliable road connectivity, severely limiting their economic and developmental potential. After more than seven decades of independence, their progress remains hindered by the lack of reliable rail links. When it comes to connecting such neglected areas to the national railway network, no challenge should be deemed too great. She hopes that these concerns and requests will be considered with empathy for the greater public interest and that prompt positive action will follow.
