Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti penned a letter of thanks to Rail Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw today for suspending three rail initiatives in the Kashmir Valley. The pause safeguards irreplaceable farmlands, offering respite to a farming community on the brink.
Pressing for a full overhaul, Mufti proposed redirecting tracks through desolate, non-fertile zones to establish a dedicated corridor for fruits. This protects livelihoods in an economy where agriculture sustains nearly 66% of residents, even as usable land dwindles amid prior losses to road projects.
In her detailed missive, Mufti painted a vivid picture: small-scale farmers in rural Kashmir, bereft of backups, pivot to intensive cropping while unemployment bites hard among the young. The specter of rail lines slicing through orchards loomed large, threatening years of toil.
A mere hold isn’t enough; Mufti demanded termination of existing plans for sustainable alternatives on wasteland. Such measures would secure 1.5 million families’ futures and foster balanced growth. Enthusiastic about rail benefits, she underscored the urgency of a fruit corridor given highway vulnerabilities.
Looking ahead, Mufti urged connectivity boosts to Chenab Valley and Pir Panjal—bountiful yet isolated spots starved of dependable roads for seven decades plus. Strategic priorities demand overcoming hurdles to integrate them into the national grid. She anticipates swift, compassionate intervention for broader welfare.