Anantnag, Sep 3: The Ministry of Railways has approved an experimental halt for the Jammu Tawi–Srinagar Vande Bharat Express at Anantnag railway station, a move likely to improve rail connectivity for south Kashmir and provide a boost to the region’s tourism and local economy.
The decision has been welcomed by local stakeholders, who said the long-pending demand for a stoppage at Anantnag would benefit not only tourists but also taxi operators, hoteliers, restaurant and dhaba owners, and other businesses dependent on tourist movement.
Vice President of the Ekta Tourist Association of South Kashmir said the association had raised the demand with the government around three to four months ago, seeking a halt of the Vande Bharat Express at Anantnag.
“We had strongly demanded that the Vande Bharat train should be halted here. The tourism-related business in the area had suffered, as many tourists arriving by train would stay in Srinagar,” he said.
He said tourists travelling onwards to different destinations in south Kashmir were often transported from Srinagar by local tourist vehicles, limiting the direct economic benefit to Anantnag and neighbouring areas.
“This is very good news for Anantnag, particularly for tourism. The taxi stands, hotels, dhabas and other businesses around the railway station will benefit. It will create more opportunities and provide livelihood support to people associated with the tourism sector,” he said.
The stakeholder said the experimental stoppage would also benefit residents of several districts in south Kashmir who previously had to travel to Srinagar to board the Vande Bharat Express for journeys towards Jammu and Delhi.
“Earlier, if we wanted to travel to Jammu or Delhi by Vande Bharat, we had to go to Srinagar. Now people from four districts can come to Anantnag railway station and board the train directly,” he said.
He termed the decision a significant development for the people of south Kashmir, saying that improved accessibility to the premium train service could encourage greater tourist movement and make travel more convenient for residents.
The halt is also expected to strengthen Anantnag’s position as an important transit point for tourists visiting south Kashmir, including destinations such as Pahalgam and other tourist areas.
Local tourism stakeholders have maintained that better rail connectivity can help distribute tourist footfall beyond Srinagar and provide direct economic opportunities to communities along the railway network.
The experimental halt, therefore, is being viewed as an important step towards improving connectivity while simultaneously supporting tourism-related businesses and livelihoods in south Kashmir.
