SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday said that the upcoming extension of the train service from Jammu Tawi to Srinagar, starting April 30, is expected to significantly strengthen tourism and improve connectivity across the Union Territory.
Officials said a specially designed Vande Bharat Express, which has been operating between Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra and Srinagar for the past nine months, will now be extended up to Jammu Tawi, linking the twin capital cities of Jammu and Srinagar directly.
Reacting to the development, the Chief Minister said the increased capacity of the service would allow more passengers to travel, thereby enhancing mobility and providing a boost to the tourism sector.
He noted that earlier the service operated with an eight-coach train between Katra and Srinagar, but the upgraded 20-coach configuration would significantly increase passenger capacity.
Abdullah said such services should continue to expand, adding that both frequency and capacity of trains need to be increased further to meet growing demand.
He also said that any additional suggestions or operational issues related to the service would be addressed during the formal launch event scheduled for April 30, in the presence of the concerned Union Minister.
On the startup ecosystem in Jammu and Kashmir, the Chief Minister acknowledged that the region is still developing compared to other states but said it can benefit from learning from their experiences.
He said the Startup Policy introduced in 2024 has laid the groundwork for ecosystem development, with dedicated budgetary support now in place for funding and growth initiatives.
Abdullah added that efforts are underway to build a structured startup ecosystem in the Union Territory, including plans to establish an incubation centre at the Government College of Engineering and Technology later this year following a recent demand from the institution.
Earlier in the day, he inaugurated the School of Architecture building at the same college in Jammu. The event was attended by Minister Sakina Itoo and MLA Nagrota Devyani Rana. The new facility is expected to strengthen technical education infrastructure and enhance learning opportunities for students in the region.
