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Anantnag, Jammu and Kashmir (June 4, 2025): Iltija Mufti, leader of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) and daughter of former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, has described the inauguration of the Chenab Bridge by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on June 6, 2025 as a positive step. However, she has also expressed concern over the environmental and passenger amenities issues associated with the project.
Iltija Mufti said, "This is a step that we should appreciate, but I would like to say that near Anantnag, near Pahalgam, they want to set up rail tracks through orchards. We should be more cautious. Kashmir is ecologically very fragile, but this is a welcome step." She further said that the Prime Minister's visit here is a good thing, though he was supposed to come last month but could not.
She also highlighted the passenger inconveniences associated with the operation of the railway line. Iltija Mufti said, "This railway line is very inconvenient for the passengers here as they are disembarked at Katra for security checks and there is a long delay of 2-3 hours. These things should be taken care of."
The Chenab Bridge, which is the world's highest railway bridge, was completed in August 2022 and is part of the Jammu-Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project. The project aims to connect the Kashmir Valley with the rest of India. However, the project has raised concerns over its impact on the local environment and ecology.
Iltija Mufti's comments underline how important it is to strike a balance between infrastructure development and local concerns. Her words not only emphasize the need for environmental protection but also call for improving passenger amenities.
This development reflects the challenge of striking a balance between ongoing development projects in Jammu and Kashmir and the concerns of local communities. Iltija Mufti's words emphasise that before pursuing any development project, the local ecology and public needs must be taken into consideration.