In a heartfelt letter to Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti has thanked the government for putting on hold three contentious rail projects traversing Kashmir’s lush orchards and fields. The move averts a potential catastrophe for the region’s agrarian economy, where fertile land is scarce and vital.
Mufti demanded scrapping the current routes in favor of sterile, unproductive terrains to pave the way for a specialized fruit transport corridor. This, she argued, is essential to secure the futures of farmers investing heavily in advanced horticulture amid shrinking arable areas.
Kashmir’s two-thirds population relies on farming and gardening, sectors that underpin the local economy despite limited cultivable space. Past infrastructure ventures like highways have already eroded significant farmland, squeezing small farmers with few other options—especially as educated youth struggle with joblessness, forcing entire families onto fragile plots.
‘The temporary suspension eases immediate panic, but uncertainty lingers, endangering long-term investments,’ Mufti cautioned. She insisted on permanent redesigns using barren lands, a step that would shield 1.5 million households and align development with ecological realities.
Farmers aren’t opposing connectivity; they crave a reliable rail network amid erratic highways. Mufti pushed for reassessing low-productivity lands for rerouting. Additionally, she called for rail expansion into neglected Chenab Valley and Pir Panjal, areas crippled by decades of subpar roads despite their potential. With independence marking over 70 years, reliable links remain elusive, hindering progress. The minister’s positive response could transform these regions.