(By: Dr. Rajesh Bhat)

Indian Railways with the completion of construction of all tunnels on Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla  (USB) Rail Link is finally going to fulfill the long and cherished dream of Dogra Rulers to connect the two diverse regions of their much–loved State, Jammu and Kashmir, which they governed with missionary zeal.

Northern Railways, in a press handout on December 21, 2023 has emphatically made clear that the tunnel links between Katra and Reasi stations stand successfully completed and thus the all-weather railway link is going to be functional anytime. The same undoubtedly is a proud accomplishment considering the difficult geo-physical contours including the rugged terrain which presented a real and formidable challenge. Also, the fact that all this stands completed in a record time to the best of international safety norms is no mean achievement. The construction of the 18-km stretch of this ambitious and vital project in Kashmir Valley between Qazigund and Anantnag was already completed in 2009.

Maharaja’s Cherished Dream

It was Maharaja Pratap Singh  who first stressed the importance of exploring  the possibility of a railway line connecting Jammu and  Srinagar in 1898 but financial constraints and non-availability of technical know-how  during his time scuttled his dream project for well over a century. 

A railway link, however, did exist between Sialkot and Jammu which in fact was an extension of North Western Railways from Suchetgarh of the Sialkot District to the Jammu city. The work on this Railway line commenced in October 1888 and the line was declared open for traffic on 13th March, 1890.  It shows the earnestness of the then rulers to bring Jammu and Kashmir on the railway map of pre-partitioned India, but in 1947, as the State stood disconnected from the Indian rail grid, the necessity of a new railway line from Pathankot to Jammu was urgently felt. The same was finally completed in 1972.

The Sialkot Connection

The remnants of Jammu-Sialkot railway line existed till recent times which included old Railway Station building at Bikram Chowk, Jammu and has now been replaced by Kala Kendra Complex.  Nowadays, the Transport Yard, which has come into existence and is utilized for parking heavy trucks and other vehicles besides housing the workshop complex for JKSRTC Buses, is actually the part of this erstwhile railway station. However, the remnants of Railway Station Building at R S Pura do exist up to the present but the structure stands in a dilapidated condition.

When Lahore was Railway’s North Western Hqrs

The fact that Kashmir always stood as an important tourist destination in the scheme of the Railway Department even before 1939 is well documented in history. This is when North Western Railway Headquarters functioned from Lahore. Kashmir Rechords is reproducing   a document to this effect for the benefit of our esteemed readers.  The document in Urdu besides listing railway fares and accompanied road travel packages to Srinagar highlights the role of famous firm with pan-India presence—- Mesers N D Radha Krishan and Sons Railway Out Agents. The firm incidentally still stands rooted in the popular imagination of J&K’s Public. It is clear that the Department of Railways was aware of the Tourist potential and was active in encouraging tourist footfall in Kashmir. Attractive tour packages in this regard are clearly discernible in this document dated November 1939.

Since Government of India has been actively boosting joint ventures and projects and encouraging public-private participation in this regard, private firms are increasingly making their presence felt, be it the upkeep of railway stations or catering services. Considering that it becomes imperative for Indian Railways to further come up with attractive and competitive tour packages on the lines of private airlines to rope in as many tourists as possible, the necessary integral requirements to develop tourist infrastructure and assorted facilities will generate infinite employment opportunities and further augment this core sector of J&K’s economy.