Security checked; assurance permitted; Indian Railways resume services in Kashmir Valley

New Delhi, November 26: Considering the need of transportation and the prioritizing security, the Indian Railways have resumed its services in the Kashmir Valley. The decision to re-start the train services in Kashmir valley was taken after due security audits and assurance by Government Railway Police in Jammu & Kashmir. The train services have restored to benefit the thousands of local commuters to travel by train over the entire area between Baramulla to Banihal.

The resumption of services came after days of trial run. Due to security reasons, the services in the Valley were disconnected and along with this, the heavy snowfall also created hurdles to resume the service. However, rail snow cutting machines were pressed into the service to clear snow over railway tracks. The Srinagar–Baramulla section and Srinagar–Banihal section were cleared before permitting safe operation on railway track.

 

Accordingly, inspection and trial runs were undertaken between Srinagar – Baramulla Rail Section on 10th November, 2019 and between Srinagar-Banihal section on 16th November, 2019. Train services in the valley were suspended on August 3, ahead of the Centre's decision to abrogate Article 370 of the Constitution and bifurcate the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir into two Union territories.