After years of engineering challenges and substantial investment, the long-anticipated railway line connecting Kashmir to mainland India has officially opened. Inaugurated recently, this 170-mile Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla rail line represents a significant step toward enhancing connectivity, hailed by Indian officials as a major transformation for the region. However, many Kashmiris see the project as the Indian government’s effort to strengthen its grip on the area, rather than a genuine effort to uplift their community.
The railway, built at a cost of around $4.4 billion, features impressive infrastructure, including a towering bridge and a nearly seven-mile-long tunnel through the mountains. Officials assert that this new link will foster economic growth in Kashmir, which historically relied on a single road for access. “This will change everything,” says 28-year-old entrepreneur Naveed Hassan, highlighting the potential for increased tourism and business opportunities. Despite this optimism, the local sentiment remains cautious, reflecting a deep-rooted apprehension regarding the intentions behind the railway's construction amidst ongoing geopolitical tensions in the region.
