Representative photo JAMMU: Parties across the political divide in J&K have welcomed the announcement on Tuesday by railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw that three proposed railway projects in the state have been put on hold for now following opposition from the state govt and MPs, who have argued that the track alignments could damage apple orchards.Vaishnaw said there was a demand for three additional railway projects in the region, but these had been kept on hold for now due to the objections raised.He did not specify the names of the projects.The governing National Conference said the halted proposals include the Bijbehara-Pahalgam railway link and the Pulwama-Shopian railway project. The issue was earlier raised by local farmers, legislators, including Anantnag-Poonch MP Mian Altaf and the opposition PDP leaders.Pahalgam legislator Altaf Kaloo and the NC spokesman Tanvir Sadiq thanked CM Omar Abdullah and MP Mian Altaf for what they described as their “timely and critical intervention” in stopping the proposed railway tracks between Bijbehara-Pahalgam and Anantnag-Shopian.“This is a vital step towards protecting people’s livelihoods, apple orchards and the fragile ecology of the region,” Kaloo said.PDP president and former CM Mehbooba Mufti said, “The decision to put the Pahalgam and Shopian railway lines on hold brings much-needed relief to Kashmir’s agrarian economy. These projects threatened to destroy scarce fertile land and push over a million rural families into uncertainty. In any future plan, farmers and local communities must be taken on board to protect Kashmir’s economy and social fabric.”CPI(M) legislator M Y Tarigami said connectivity to areas like Pahalgam and Shopian and other areas of J&K already exists through road networks and more roads are coming up. “Development is meaningless if it destroys livelihoods,” he said, hailing the railway minister for the decision to halt the projects.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideos’India-US Trade Deal Removes Competitive Disadvantage’: Former Indian Envoy To WashingtonIndia-US Trade Deal: Trump Says India Won’t Buy Russian Oil; Rahul Gandhi Accuses PM of Selling Out’Symbol Of Negativity’: Goyal Rains Fire On Rahul Gandhi After US-India Trade Deal, Parl RuckusIndia-US Trade Deal: Moscow Contradicts Trump’s Claim On New Delhi ‘Stopping’ Russian Oil Imports’Called Me Yaar, Threw Papers’: TDP MP Tenneti Slams Eight Suspended Lok Sabha MPs’Dairy, Agriculture Protected’: Piyush Goyal Outlines ‘Historic’ US-India Trade Deal, Lauds PM ModiBudget 2026: Defence Expert Flags Committed Liabilities, Calls For Battlefield TransparencyPak Defence Minister Khawaja Asif Admits Terror Rooted In Corruption, Vindicates India In ParliamentGold, Silver Under Pressure After Peaks: Should You Invest And Hold Precious Metals Or Sell Off?India Moves To Secure Chicken’s Neck As Underground Rail Project Targets Strategic Vulnerabilities123PhotostoriesHow to make dhaba-style dal makhani at homeThere are only 6 countries whose names begin with the letter ‘U’Archana Puran Singh and Parmeet Sethi’s love story: From a ‘fling’ to three decades of togethernessA look into Yuvika Chaudhary and Prince Narula’s parenthood journeyFrom prehistoric sharks to unusual flowers: What’s inside the world’s largest cave6 common mistakes people make while cooking cauliflower6 luxury electric cars that blend sustainability with opulence‘Love Island’, ‘Love Is Blind’, and more: Reality TV couples who are still together in 2026Diljit Dosanjh makes Indian-style Masala Bread Omelette and we are absolutely loving it’Vadh 2’, ‘Bhabhiji Ghar Par Hain’, ‘Devdas’ re-release: What to watch in cinemas this week123Hot PicksBudget 2026Gold Silver PricesCigarette Prices HikeIndia US TradeIncome Tax CalculatorPublic holidays February 2026Bank Holidays februaryTop TrendingSuper Bowl HalftimeMLB Trade RumorsJarrell MillerTom BradyTampa Bay LightningNHL Trade RumorsDarnell NurseRyan ClarkSam BennettGold Riyadh Players Ranking
JAMMU: Parties across the political divide in J&K have welcomed the announcement on Tuesday by railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw that three proposed railway projects in the state have been put on hold for now following opposition from the state govt and MPs, who have argued that the track alignments could damage apple orchards.Vaishnaw said there was a demand for three additional railway projects in the region, but these had been kept on hold for now due to the objections raised.He did not specify the names of the projects.The governing National Conference said the halted proposals include the Bijbehara-Pahalgam railway link and the Pulwama-Shopian railway project. The issue was earlier raised by local farmers, legislators, including Anantnag-Poonch MP Mian Altaf and the opposition PDP leaders.Pahalgam legislator Altaf Kaloo and the NC spokesman Tanvir Sadiq thanked CM Omar Abdullah and MP Mian Altaf for what they described as their “timely and critical intervention” in stopping the proposed railway tracks between Bijbehara-Pahalgam and Anantnag-Shopian.“This is a vital step towards protecting people’s livelihoods, apple orchards and the fragile ecology of the region,” Kaloo said.PDP president and former CM Mehbooba Mufti said, “The decision to put the Pahalgam and Shopian railway lines on hold brings much-needed relief to Kashmir’s agrarian economy. These projects threatened to destroy scarce fertile land and push over a million rural families into uncertainty. In any future plan, farmers and local communities must be taken on board to protect Kashmir’s economy and social fabric.”CPI(M) legislator M Y Tarigami said connectivity to areas like Pahalgam and Shopian and other areas of J&K already exists through road networks and more roads are coming up. “Development is meaningless if it destroys livelihoods,” he said, hailing the railway minister for the decision to halt the projects.
