KL NEWS NETWORK
SRINAGAR
With the introduction of four super-fast trains between Baramulla and Banihal, the travel time is expected to be nosedive phenomenally. Now, Srinagar is barely 35 minutes away from Islamabad and Baramulla. The train, however, would require close to two hours in chugging the entire operational track.
Four superfast trains were formally launched on Thursday by Chief Minister Ms Mehbooba Mufti. “These trains were supposed to start in January but God had other plans,” Ms Mufti said. A simultaneous function was going on in Railway Bhawan in Delhi. “This will ease the traffic mess on the highway and help employees and students especially.”
Ms Mufti later boarded the train that had scores of students from various state run schools on its inaugural service. She interacted with them and sung with Hum Houngay Kamyab Eak Din.
Flanked by Muzaffar Hussain Beig and many other ministers, Ms Mufti went to Baramulla and then returned to Srinagar.
Unlike routine 26 trains that ply between Banihal and Baramulla, the four superfast trains, however, will have limited stops. They would briefly halt at Qazigund, Islamabad, Srinagar, Budgam, Mazhama and Sopore besides the two main stations at Banihal and Baramulla.
Ms Mufti said she is aware of the demands that it should have more stations and will be talking to respective authorities. Interestingly, the super-train skips Pulwama district and her home town Bijbehara.
