PM opens Banihal-Qazigund rail link

In a giant leap in connectivity between the Kashmir Valley and Jammu region, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today inaugurated the 18-km long Banihal-Qazigund section of the ambitious mountain railway, promising all support for development of the state.
Flanked by UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Governor N N Vohra and central ministers, the Prime Minister flagged off the first train and boarded it for a journey across the 11-km tunnel, the longest in the country, through the difficult terrain of Pir Panjal ranges.
Gandhi and others also accompanied him in the brief journey.
"I assure you that the Centre will provide all possible support to Jammu and Kashmir for its development," Singh said addressing the gathering at the function winding up his two-day visit to the state which had witnessed a terror attack on Monday in which eight soldiers were killed.

The rail link to Kashmir, the most beautiful part of the country, will help boost tourism, movement of people, business and enable more employment opportunities for the people of the state, he said.
The Banihal-Qazigund section, which reduces the 35 km distance by road to half, was constructed at a cost of about Rs 1,700 crore.

The Udhampur-Katra-Banihal section, which will connect the Kashmir valley with the rest of the country's rail network, is expected to be completed by 2017.
"I am very hopeful that the remaining work will be completed within the stipulated time so that the people of Kashmir can benefit from this all-weather surface link," Singh said.

Speaking at the function, Gandhi said UPA was aware of the sentiments of the people of Jammu and Kashmir and affirm that solution to any problem lies in the democratic set up of the country through discussions and deliberations.
The Chief Minister used the occasion to make a veiled attack on BJP for raking up the issue of Article 370 saying the special status for the state was being used as a political issue by the party to be befool people.