Kashmir’s New Rail Link: A Gateway or a Grip?

After years of construction, India has launched a railway connection to Kashmir, touted as a significant development for the region. While officials highlight economic prospects, many Kashmiris view it as a move to solidify government dominance.

After years of ambitious engineering feats and significant investments, India's Kashmir now has a rail link uniting it with the broader country. The Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla railway was officially inaugurated recently, marking the culmination of a long-cherished desire dating back to the British colonial period. While Indian officials celebrate this as a monumental achievement that promises to transform the economically struggling region, many locals interpret it differently, perceiving it as a mechanism to reinforce governmental control over Kashmir.

The rail project, which faced several delays—most recently due to violence linked to a terrorist attack in April—covers 170 miles of challenging and often dangerous terrain. Constructed at an expenditure exceeding $4.4 billion, the railway includes one of the tallest railway bridges globally and a nearly seven-mile-long tunnel through the picturesque mountain landscape.

Government representatives argue that this rail link could aid Kashmir in participating more significantly in the economic growth observed in other parts of India while enhancing connectivity with the mainland. Until this development, a solitary road provided the only overland connection, frequently obstructed by snow during harsh winters.

"This will change everything," noted Naveed Hassan, a young entrepreneur eager for the economic opportunities the railway may bring. "Tourists can now travel directly from Delhi. Our businesses stand to flourish." However, this optimistic outlook exists alongside a pervasive sentiment among some Kashmiris who fear the rail link could serve as an apparatus for ongoing governmental dominance in a region rife with tension.