Rail Minister hints at special design trains for J&K, signals progress on Jammu Metro

• Customised rail solutions being readied for high-altitude regions like J&K: Vaishnaw

NEW DELHI, FEBRUARY 6: The Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Friday indicated forward movement on proposals related to Metro and urban rail services in Jammu, while also underlining the complex technical, environmental and land acquisition challenges affecting railway projects across several states.

Participating in a wide-ranging Question Hour and Zero Hour discussion in the Rajya Sabha, the Minister responded to queries and suggestions from Members of Parliament on infrastructure development, premium train connectivity and stalled projects.

During Question Hour, BJP-nominated MP Gulam Ali raised a question regarding the possibility of introducing Metro services in Jammu. Replying to the query, Vaishnaw said he would forward the matter to Manohar Lal Khattar, who handles Metro-related issues, but added that rail operations in high-altitude and hilly regions such as Jammu and Kashmir require specialised planning.

“The operation of rail in high altitude areas is complicated. We should have a special design for trains in Jammu and Kashmir. The design is ready, and we are about to decide on this,” the Minister said, signalling that customised technological solutions are being finalised to address the region’s unique geographical and climatic conditions. The statement has been viewed as an important step toward enhancing urban mobility in Jammu and possibly paving the way for Metro or Metro-like rail systems in the future.

Vaishnaw also noted that the Railways would avoid laying spurs of the main railway line in areas where it could harm apple orchards, adding that farmers have expressed serious concerns about the impact of such alignments on horticulture and livelihoods.

During Zero Hour, the Railway Minister drew attention to the obstacles hindering expansion of railway infrastructure, particularly in Kerala, where the proposed Silver Line semi-high-speed rail project has been facing resistance over environmental concerns.

“The Silver Line project has a huge environmental impact,” Vaishnaw observed, adding that land acquisition remains one of the biggest challenges for railway development. “The state government should help the Central government, as land acquisition is really hard, and so many railway projects are pending because of this,” he said, urging greater cooperation from state authorities to resolve long-standing bottlenecks.

The House also witnessed demands for improved premium train connectivity. BJP MP from Maharashtra Medha Vishram Kulkarni pressed for introduction of Vande Bharat Sleeper trains on the Delhi–Pune route, arguing that a large number of people travel between the two cities for work and business.

“Pune and Delhi should have the Vande Bharat Sleeper train, as so many people from Delhi travel to Pune to work,” she said, stressing that Pune deserves premium rail facilities in view of its growing economic and workforce profile.

On the long-pending Angamaly–Sabarimala railway line in Kerala, which has been stalled mainly due to land acquisition issues, Vaishnaw made a pointed political remark, stating that when the BJP comes to power in Kerala, land acquisition for the project would be ensured and work would move forward.

The exchanges in the House highlighted the Centre’s push for expanding and modernising railway infrastructure, while also bringing into focus the practical challenges that continue to slow down several key projects. The Minister’s remarks on Jammu, in particular, have raised expectations of customised rail solutions and improved urban transport options for the region in the coming years.