J-K CM meets Prabhu, seeks early restoration of train services

Seeking early restoration of train service in the Valley, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti today met Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu and discussed various issues involving development of rail sector in the state.
The two met here and discussed at length about the restoration of all train services in the Valley at the earliest after taking necessary security clearance, according to a Railway Ministry official.
Proposals for a special train for children to be run every 15 days, IRCTC-run special trains to promote tourism and commissioning of glass top coaches at the earliest were taken up during the meeting, the official added.

Railway services were suspended in the Valley in the wake of the unrest that began in July in which rail infrastructure and tracks were also damaged.
Prabhu apprised Mufti that railways would be organising a vendor development camp in the Valley soon to showcase the items required by the railways which can be supplied by vendors of the state.
The Railway Minister informed the J-K CM that IRCTC would serve as an interface to boost the sale of local handicrafts. A camp would be organised inviting the local artisans to showcase their merchandise which can then be supplied to the railways, the official said.

Besides, the IRCTC will contribute in popularising the Kashmiri cuisine through static and dynamic catering units of the railways, the official added.
The railways will also work towards firming up the seasonal tourism packages starting with the winter package of 2016 for attracting tourists to Pahalgam, Gulmarg, Katra, Sonmarg etc on similar lines as has been done to promote Buddhist tourism, semi-luxury tourism and luxury tourism.