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Time of India
a day ago
- Time of India
After Pahalgam terror attack, Kashmir banks on PM, trains, Chenab and trust to revive tourism
Travel industry representatives and experts will be visiting Kashmir later this month to evaluate the safety measures implemented in the Union Territory after the Pahalgam attack , as part of confidence building measures to draw tourists back to the picturesque Himalayan region which saw a wave of cancellations by holidaymakers after the terror strike. Also Read: Kashmir valley was blooming with business. Now it's stained with blood, again Experts said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi 's visit to Kashmir after the incident, the start of a Vande Bharat Express train service and inauguration of the world's highest rail bridge over river Chenab could supplement the confidence building measures being taken to boost tourism there. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 15 Most Beautiful Women Ever Paperela Undo The J&K tourism department recently organised a seminar in which tourism professionals and tour operators from across the country were invited. The aim was to boost the confidence of tour operators," Debjit Dutta, Bengal Chapter chairman at Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO), told ET. Also Read: Chenab railway bridge: While India lays tracks in Kashmir, Pakistan cancels development projects 'The recent incident has given a major blow to tourism there. Tourists travel but safety of their lives is prime. Starting of the railway lines yesterday and the PM's visit now may act as a booster and confidence building measure,' Dutta said. 'We expect tourism in the upcoming season from September-October to look up. It is not just Kashmir, but Leh & Ladakh have also been impacted. Two states--Bengal and Gujarat--contribute most in travel. Kashmir is a destination which is always one of the top and must visit destinations.' Live Events However, Dutta said it will take a lot of time to reach the peak that was achieved in the last few years. 'Kashmir has become an all-time favourite destination in recent years. Every day, 27-28 flights were touching down at the airport. If things go well, in the present situation after Pahalgam, it will take at least 3-4 months to normalise. But to reach the past peak, a lot of time will be required.' Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who inaugurated the world's highest rail bridge and India's first cable-stayed bridge Anji on Thursday, alleged in a speech in Katra that Pakistan is against humanity, tourism and the livelihood of the Kashmiris, and thus attacked tourists in Pahalgam. Anil Punjabi, national committee member of Travel Agents' Federation of India (Tafi), said teams of various organisations are travelling to Kashmir this month to help revive tourism in the state and check the safety and security measures for travellers. 'Tafi representatives will be visiting Kashmir on June 13 with two representatives from every state, including in collaboration with local travel agents. The travel bodies are expecting tourism to look up post June,' said Punjabi, who is based in Bengal, the state that accounts for 25-30% of tourism in Kashmir. 'The purpose is to have on-ground inspection to understand the situation first-hand, talking to the local people, local agents, seeing if everything looks normal, monitoring the hotel services and staff after the recent incident in Pahalgam,' Punjabi said. The terror attack in Pahalgam in April left 26 people dead, mostly tourists. It drove away holidaymakers and led to a barrage of travel and hotel reservation cancellations. Tafi and tour operators in Bengal claimed that cancellations were as high as 85%. 'The security is the main issue which we want to oversee-whether they are introducing something like tourist police. We can recommend them and discuss them with the local administration. The local travel agents are likely to arrange such meetings,' Punjabi said. 'The most significant assurance we need is the safety of the travellers. We are getting there and going to experience it ourselves. In the coming days, we are going to promote Srinagar and Pahalgam," Punjabi said. "One Association has already gone and Tafi is going, too. Each association has 3,000 members, which is a huge number. The confidence of the travellers will be gained once such visits are made… It is directly affecting the livelihoods of the local people in Kashmir. What the PM is saying, things are looking very positive" he noted. Akash Kundu, owner of Kolkata-based Explore India travel agency, said, 'There are fewer tourists from Bengal now. We are trying to start Kashmir tours again. However, the bookings for next year 2026 January are already full. The travellers, who have made the bookings in 2026, have not cancelled.' 'From June 16, Indigo will start flights again. The loads are also filling up. We can be hopeful with more tourists visiting Kashmir,' the Tafi member said.
India Gazette
3 days ago
- India Gazette
Passengers hail Srinagar-Katra Vande Bharat as 'unmatched convenience', call it a 'great move' to connect Kashmir with rest of India
Srinagar (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], June 7 (ANI): The inaugural ride of the Vande Bharat Express between Srinagar and Katra has drawn praise from passengers, many of whom described the new service as offering 'unmatched convenience,' making travel 'much easier', 'possible and comfortable,' while hailing it as a 'great move by the government' to connect Kashmir with the rest of India. Tourists and locals alike hailed the launch as a historic moment, saying it would not only cut down travel time but also boost tourism and make Kashmir more accessible. Speaking to ANI, Ashok Kumar Khajanchi, a tourist from Bikaner in Rajasthan, shared his experience, 'We came from Bikaner to Mumbai and then to Srinagar. We've visited places like Belgaum, Gulmarg, and Sonamarg. Many had tried to scare us into cancelling our trip, but we were determined. When we heard Vande Bharat was running, we cancelled our taxi to Jammu Tawi, even though we lost Rs 6,000. We booked Vande Bharat tickets at 7 PM and reached Srinagar by 8 PM. Due to my health problems, the train made travel much easier.' Khajanchi, who is recovering from a foot fracture, added, 'The convenience offered by Vande Bharat is unmatched. I had two fractures, so we had to cancel our earlier car and train bookings. But this train made the journey possible and comfortable.' His wife, Manju Khajanchi, also expressed satisfaction with their Kashmir trip. 'We've spent five days in Srinagar. The weather is lovely, and people are welcoming. Whatever you hear in the news is far from reality. It's peaceful and beautiful--just like a paradise,' she said, standing at Srinagar railway station before boarding the train back to Katra. Another traveller highlighted the new service's time-saving aspect: 'Earlier, travelling to Jammu meant taking a flight or a long taxi ride. Now, the Vande Bharat train will make the same journey in nearly the same time as a flight. It's a great move by the government to connect Kashmir with the rest of India.' He added, 'This will benefit not just tourists but also officials and local commuters. Once extended to Jammu in two months, the journey will become even smoother. People from the South who earlier avoided long flights or multiple modes of transport can now come by train.' With the commencement of this route, many believe Kashmir will witness a sharp rise in tourism, as Vande Bharat promises a fast, reliable, and scenic journey through the valley. On Friday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off two Vande Bharat Express trains from Katra Railway Station, officially connecting the Jammu division with Kashmir via rail. This marks a major milestone in strengthening railway infrastructure in Jammu and Kashmir. During his visit, PM Modi also inaugurated the world's highest railway arch bridge over the Chenab River. Speaking on the occasion, he said the development projects will further boost Jammu and Kashmir's growth journey. The train passes through two engineering marvels: the Anji Khad Bridge, India's first cable-stayed railway bridge, and the Chenab Bridge, the highest railway bridge in the world. (ANI)
Hans India
3 days ago
- Politics
- Hans India
Pahalgam an attack on both insaniyat & Kashmiriyat: PM
Katra: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday accused Pakistan of targeting "insaniyat and Kashmiriyat" through the terror attack in Pahalgam, saying the assault was "orchestrated with the sinister intent of inciting communal riots in India and robbing the impoverished, tourism-dependent Kashmiris of their livelihood". Addressing a huge rally here after inaugurating the first direct train service to the Kashmir Valley, a project featuring the world's highest arched railway bridge over the Chenab River and India's first cable-stayed Anji bridge, the Prime Minister said "our neighbouring country stands against humanity, social harmony, and economic prosperity". "Not only that, it is also the enemy of poor people's 'rozi-roti' (bread and butter)," Modi said, as he reiterated that the April 22 Pahalgam attack was a stark example through which Pakistan "intended to incite communal violence in India and cripple the earnings of hardworking Kashmiris". Tourism not only generates jobs but also fosters unity among people, Modi said. This was the Prime Minister's first visit to Jammu and Kashmir after the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that claimed 26 lives, and India's cross-border military action under Operation Sindoor that followed. After inaugurating the Chenab bridge, the Prime Minister walked on it holding the Tricolour high. He travelled in a rail engine coach to reach the spot. Modi said projects worth Rs 46,000 crore, which he launched, will accelerate development in Jammu and Kashmir, driving progress and prosperity. During the historic event in Katra, the base camp for pilgrims visiting the Vaishno Devi shrine, the Prime Minister condemned Pakistan's repeated attempts to disrupt progress in the region. "Our neighbouring country stands against humanity, social harmony, and economic prosperity. Not only that, it is also the enemy of poor's 'rozi-roti'. What happened on April 22 in Pahalgam was an example of that. Pakistan attacked 'Insaniyat and Kashmiriyat' in Pahalgam," he said. Modi pointed out that the deliberate attack on tourists was meant to sabotage the flourishing tourism industry in Jammu and Kashmir, which witnessed record visitor footfalls over the past few years. He said Pakistan's malicious intent directly impacted local workers, including pony rider operators, porters, guides, guest house owners and shopkeepers, aiming to destroy their livelihoods. The Prime Minister also praised the courage of young pony ride operator Adil Hussain Shah, who stood against terrorists but tragically lost his life in the Pahalgam terror attack while striving to support his family through honest labour. Recalling that exactly one month ago, on the intervening night of May 6-7, India executed Operation Sindoor to deliver a decisive blow to Pakistan-based terrorists, Modi said, "Whenever Pakistan hears the name Operation Sindoor, it will be reminded of its shameful defeat. "Pakistan's military and terror networks never anticipated India's bold move. Within minutes, terror infrastructure hundreds of kilometres inside their country that they had built over decades were reduced to ruins." Left in shock and frustration, Pakistan took out its anger on civilians in Poonch and other border districts where it bombed school going children, destroyed schools and hospitals, and attacked temples, mosques and gurdwaras with shelling, Modi said. But the countrymen stood with the victims of Pakistani shelling with full strength, he added.
NDTV
4 days ago
- Politics
- NDTV
Pak Targeted J&K Tourism, Wanted To Trigger Riots In India: PM Modi
Quick Read Summary is AI generated, newsroom reviewed. PM Narendra Modi criticised Pakistan for supporting terrorism and conspiring to harm Jammu and Kashmir's tourism sector by sending terrorists to kill tourists. Pakistan has been warned, and it will not succeed, PM Modi said. New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a direct attack on Pakistan today over the neighbouring country's open support to terrorists. He slammed Pakistan for conspiring to strike at Jammu and Kashmir's economy and discourage travellers by killing 26 tourists in Pahalgam. "Pakistan is against humanity, tourism and rozi-roti of Kashmiris, and hence attacked tourists in Pahalgam," PM Modi said in Katra after inaugurating the world's highest rail bridge over the River Chenab, and India's first cable-stayed bridge Anji. PM Modi's strong comments against Pakistan have increased pressure on the neighbouring country over its policy of allowing terrorists to train on its territory before sending them to India to launch attacks. After Operation Sindoor, when India launched precision cruise missile strikes at terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK), India maintained that its fight was against terrorists in Pakistan and not against the people of Pakistan. "Whenever Pakistan hears the name 'Operation Sindoor', it will be reminded of its shameful defeat," PM Modi said, referring to India's strikes on Pakistani military installations like air bases and radar sites. Earlier today, the prime minister flagged off a Vande Bharat service between Katra and Srinagar in Jammu and Kashmir, the first train connection between Kashmir valley and the Jammu region. He inaugurated the train in the presence of Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, among others. According to the Northern Railway, the train has two travelling classes - Chair Car (CC) and Executive Class (EC) - with tickets costing Rs 715 and Rs 1,320, respectively. The rail link features India's second-longest transportation tunnel, T-80 (11.22 km), known as the Pir Panjal Railway Tunnel, situated between Banihal and Qazigund. The project involves the construction of 36 main tunnels with a total length of 119.6 km, along with eight escape tunnels totalling 66.4 km. The Chenab bridge measures 1.3 km in length and stands at a height of 359 metres- 35 metres higher than the Eiffel Tower. The construction involved over 600 km of steel welding, exceeding the length of the railway track from Jammu to Delhi. Anji Bridge, India's first cable-stayed railway bridge, is 725.5 metres long. The bridge is balanced on the axis of a single central pylon and the height of a single pylon is 193 metres from the top of the foundation. Remarkably, all 96 stay cables were installed within just 11 months, with a total length of 653 km - more than the distance from Jammu to Delhi.
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Business Standard
5 days ago
- Politics
- Business Standard
Multi-tier security set up in J&K ahead of PM Modi's visit on June 6
A multi-tier security setup has been put in place for Prme Minister Naredra Modi's visit to Jammu and Kashmir on Friday to inaugurate the much-awaited Kashmir rail link and also dedicate to the nation multiple development projects worth over Rs 46,000 crore in Katra, officials said. This will be the first visit of Modi to the Union Territory post Operation Sindoor launched by the Indian Armed Forces in retaliation to the Pahalgam terror attack that left 26 persons, mostly tourists, dead on April 22. Prime Minister Modi is scheduled to inaugurate the Chenab bridge and India's first cable-stayed Anji bridge, the symbol of India's engineering excellence before flagging off Vande Bharat trains to mark the completion of the 272-km Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla railway link (USBRL) that will provide direct train connectivity to the valley. Modi will also lay the foundation stone, inaugurate and dedicate to the nation multiple development projects worth over Rs 46,000 crore at Katra, the base camp for pilgrims visiting the Vaishno Devi shrine atop Trikuta hills in Reasi district. The 272 km long USBRL project, constructed at a cost of around Rs 43,780 crore includes 36 tunnels (spanning 119 km) and 943 bridges. The project establishes all-weather, seamless rail connectivity between Kashmir and the rest of the country aiming to transform regional mobility and drive socio-economic integration. Prime Minister Modi will also flag off two Vande Bharat Express trains from Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra to Srinagar and back. They will offer a swift, comfortable, and reliable travel option for residents, tourists, pilgrims among others. In a major boost to last mile connectivity especially in border areas, Modi will lay the foundation stone and inaugurate various road projects. He will lay the foundation stone of road widening project from Rafiabad to Kupwara on National Highway-701 and the construction of Shopian bypass road on NH-444 worth over Rs 1,952 crore. He will also inaugurate two flyover projects at Sangrama Junction on National Highway-1 in Srinagar and at Bemina Junction on National Highway-44. These projects will ease traffic congestion and enhance traffic flow for the commuters. Prime Minister Modi will also lay the foundation stone of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence in Katra worth over Rs 350 crore. It will be the first medical college in Reasi district contributing substantially to the healthcare infrastructure in the region. Out of the total 272 km USBRL project, 209 km was commissioned in phases with the first phase of the 118 km Qazigund-Baramulla section commissioned in October 2009 followed by 18 km Banihal-Qazigund in June 2013, 25 km Udhampur-Katra in July 2014 and 48.1 km long Banihal-Sangaldan stretch in February, last year. The work on the 46-km Sangaldan-Reasi section was also completed in June last year, leaving a total 17 km stretch between Reasi and Katra and this section was finally completed in December 2024. Officials said a high security alert has been sounded across Jammu and Kashmir in view of the Prime Minister's visit with senior police, paramilitary officers, army and intelligence officers personally monitoring the situation. Heavy security deployments have been made in and around the venues with latest gadgets, including drones deployed to keep a close vigil, the officials said, adding the security grid on the borders and the hinterland has been further beefed up to check infiltration and movement of anti-national and subversive elements. The area domination and raids on the houses of suspected persons including Over Ground Workers and relatives of terrorists operating from across the border have also been intensified as part of the security arrangements, the officials said. During a visit to border areas on Wednesday, Deputy Inspector General of Police, Jammu-Kathua-Samba range, Shiv Kumar directed the officers on the ground to remain vigilant. The officials said several roads heading towards Katra Stadium, the venue of Modi's public rally, may be shut or there may be traffic diversions on Friday. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
