Valley train reaches Baramulla

People in Kashmir had another reason to smile this Valentine's Day, as UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi inaugurated the second phase of railway line in the Valley on Saturday.

But the residents will be able to travel from Baramulla to Anantnag, a distance of 101 km, on February 15.

The Baramulla-Anantnag train will pass through 13 railway stations: Budgam, Nowgam, Pampore, Kakapora, Awantipora, Panzgam, Bijbehara, Anatnag, Mazgam, Sopore, Hamray, Pattan and Baramulla.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had flagged off Kashmir's first train on October 11.

However, the people are angry with the state Government, as approach roads to all the railway stations are in a dilapidated condition and have not been macadamized.

"It is really bad that when the dream rail has reached the border district Baramulla, the state Government has failed to build good approach roads to 13 stations," said Hamid Ahmed, a resident of south Kashmir's Anatnag district.

"The approach roads to all the railway stations are muddy which speaks volumes about the seriousness of the government officials when it comes to prestigious projects."

Sources said the approach roads to the railway stations were to be macadamized by the state Government's Roads and Building (R&B) department. But the department was working at a snail's pace.

"Despite winter, our department worked to make the roads motorable," said R&B Commissioner Secretary Mehboob Iqbal.

"We cannot make the road metallic during the winter. But all the approach roads to railway stations will be macadamized before June."

ALSO READ

Manhunt launched to nab anti-national graffiti suspects in Kashmir

Kashmir: Strike against spurious drug trade evokes little response

Kashmir has become hub of sub-standard medicines: Darakshan Andrabi

Girl becomes first Kashmiri to develop Android app