Come spring and, for the first time, a railway train will chug across the breathtaking terrain in Kashmir. Work on 40 km of the120-km stretch of the Qazigund-Baramulla railway line has been completed and come March 2007, the first train will start plying around 20 km on either side of Srinagar, from Pulwama to Budgam.

Although this will be just a 30-minute journey, at 100 km/hr, it will cut the present road travel time by a third. “This is only the first phase but we want to start the train as it will be a big morale-booster to both the people and the thousands of workers who have toiled on the railway link day and night,’’ said R V Anand, General Manager, Ircon International Limited, a Government of India undertaking which is constructing the railway link in the Valley.

The first coach has arrived in Srinagar and four more will follow. “They will be here as soon as the highway becomes feasible for transportation of the coaches,’’ said Anand. The stations at Pulwama (Kakpura), Nowgam in Srinagar and Budgam are almost ready with only interiors to be done.

The second stretch, the 45-km line from Anantnag to Pulwama, will be operational by August 2007. Railway officials are hopeful that the entire 120 km will be operational by the end of 2007.

“There are some impediments like land acquisition and compensation but that will soon be worked out,’’ Anand said.

Out of Rs 3000 crore earmarked for this stretch, Rs 600 crore has been set aside for land compensation.

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