Business landscape set to transform with railway connectivity in J K

In the heart of the Himalayas, where majestic peaks and verdant valleys frame centuries-old traditions, a quiet revolution is underway.

- MOHAMMAD HANIEF

The clatter of wheels on steel tracks-long missing from Kashmir's economic story-is now emerging as a powerful catalyst for business, trade, and entrepreneurship.

With the Indian Railways intensifying efforts to expand and upgrade services in the Valley, particularly through the completion of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL), Kashmir is on the cusp of an economic transformation. The push for enhanced train connectivity is not only bridging geographical gaps-it is opening up untapped markets, reducing costs, and reviving hope for sustainable development in the region.

Kashmir has long remained one of the few regions in India without a fully integrated railway link to the national network. While intra-Valley rail services between Baramulla and Banihal have been operational for over a decade, the missing link to the Jammu region-and by extension, the rest of India-posed a serious bottleneck to trade and mobility.

That gap is now closing, with the USBRL project in its final phase. Spanning 272 kilometers of some of the most challenging terrain in the world, the rail line features the Chenab Bridge-the world's highest railway arch-and multiple tunnels through the Pir Panjal range. Once fully operational, this engineering marvel will reduce dependence on the often-treacherous Jammu-Srinagar highway and cut travel time drastically.

The enhanced rail connectivity has already begun to bear fruit for Kashmir's core industries, particularly horticulture, handicrafts, and small-scale trade.

In Sopore, often dubbed the 'apple bowl of Asia,' traders are enthusiastic about the prospect of exporting fresh produce to metropolitan markets with greater speed and lower cost. "Earlier, transporting apples to Delhi or Mumbai by road took over a week and involved high freight charges. Trains are faster and cheaper-and more reliable during bad weather," says Mohammad Yousuf, a second-generation fruit exporter.