National Conference (NC) senior leader and MLA Pahalgam, Altaf Kaloo, has appealed to the Union Minister of Railways, Ashwini Vaishnaw, to include Anantnag as a designated stop for the upcoming Delhi-Srinagar Vande Bharat Express.
The much-anticipated Vande Bharat Sleeper train is set to commence operations in January 2025, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi expected to flag off the inaugural journey.
Taking to the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), he posted, ‘Urging Hon Minister of Railways @AshwiniVaishnaw to kindly consider adding Anantnag as a stoppage for the upcoming Delhi-Sgr Vande Bharat Express, scheduled for launch in 2025. This step will greatly benefit the people of South Kmr & boost regional connectivity.”
The proposal has sparked discussions among local stakeholders, who believe such an initiative could further integrate south Kashmir into the broader rail network.