EXPRESSWAY TO DEVELOPMENT
Kashmir has been referred to as the ‘Switzerland of East’, ‘Heaven on Earth’ since time immemorial. However, as the draconian Section 370 and Article 35A were in effect since 2019, any kind of infrastructural development in the Valley was a Herculean task for the government. Since the scrapping of these laws, there has been a wave of infrastructural projects that have arrived in the Valley. Not only has the militancy hit an all-time low, the local population has been welcoming these changes due to the availability of job opportunities that were previously missing.
The year following neutering of the redundant Article 370, saw 2,273 infrastructure projects worth close to 6000 crore being sanctioned. These projects were pending for over ten years. Not only this, around 500 projects were already completed by the end of 2020. The floods of 2014 had shown gaping holes in the management of Jhelum river’s flow as well as lack of proper drainage system. To counter this problem, which may pose as a threat of the people and economy of Kashmir, Phase 1 of Jhelum flood mitigation project is already complete. Though the pandemic had posed as a setback for the people of Kashmir, the development projects have opened close to 20,000 jobs. Apart from employment, 50 degree colleges are in the process of being opened in Kashmir.
So far, 50 roads, 56 bridges and five building works have been completed. Some major upcoming projects that are being under taken are the Elevated Expressway Corridor Project, Upgradation of Baramulla – Gulmarg Road, Lower Kalnai Hydro Project, Kishanganga Hydel Power Unit, Biotech Park in Kathua, Two Laning of Zojila Tunnel, Banihal – Qazigund Tunnel, Banihal – Udhampur Railway Line.
Apart from massive infrastructure development, there are projects being undertaken to put Kashmir on the global map for tourism. The slopes of Gulmarg already attract skiing and snowboarding enthusiasts from all over the world during winter season, the road and rail development will be luring tourists of other interests too. The winter of 2020- 21 saw a surge of tourists arriving to the Valley to enjoy the frosty season as well as see the breathtaking vistas of Kashmir. Very soon the ‘Vistadome Train’ will begin plying in the Valley, which will have glass ceiling like the ones in Switzerland and other European countries. This train has the potential to be a major crowd puller due to the gorgeous views that the snow-capped peaks of the Himalayas have to offer. The glass of the train shall be equipped with state of art electrically controlled opalescence, which will let the passengers control the transparency of the glass. As we step into the year 2021, the Kashmir Valley is moving out of the shadow of conflict of the 90s, into the bright sunshine of development and prosperity.
