The Centre has put proposed railway projects in South Kashmir on hold following sustained opposition from local communities and political leaders, amid fears that large-scale land acquisition would devastate apple orchards and threaten livelihoods dependent on horticulture.
Union Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced the decision after requests from the Jammu and Kashmir government and Members of Parliament from the Union Territory, citing concerns over potential damage to orchards during land procurement.
“There was a demand to set up two to three more railway lines in addition to the existing Baramulla-Srinagar line. However, the state government and the MPs then said that these lines should not be built. These projects have been shelved for now. Surveys had begun on three projects, but there was a possibility of damage to apple orchards. Therefore, they have been put on hold,” Vaishnaw said.
The ruling National Conference (NC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) welcomed the move, calling it a necessary intervention to protect Kashmir’s agrarian economy. The proposed railway lines—particularly those connecting Anantnag to Pahalgam and Shopian—had drawn strong opposition from apple growers in South Kashmir, one of the Valley’s most productive horticulture belts.
Expressing gratitude to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and party MPs, the NC said the decision ensured the safety of orchards and livelihoods. “This is a government that listens to people’s concerns and acts on it,” NC spokesperson Imran Nabi Dar said.
Former chief minister and PDP president Mehbooba Mufti described the decision as a much-needed relief for farmers. “These projects threatened to destroy scarce fertile land and push over a million rural families into uncertainty. Development that uproots farmers is not progress,” Mufti said. She added that any future railway plans must be reviewed transparently, with farmers and local communities involved to protect Kashmir’s economy and social fabric.
In December 2023, the Railways had informed Parliament that surveys had been sanctioned for three new railway lines—Sopore–Kupwara (33.7 km), Awantipora–Shopian (27.6 km) and Anantnag–Bijbehara–Pahalgam (77.5 km). Almost immediately after the announcement, apple farmers in districts such as Shopian, Pulwama and Anantnag began protesting, warning that the projects would result in large-scale felling of fruit-bearing trees.
Locals estimated that nearly seven lakh apple trees could be cut down if the projects went ahead. Farmers were already reeling from disruptions caused by landslides during last year’s peak harvest season, which severely hampered transportation of produce.
According to government figures, the horticulture sector is a major contributor to Jammu and Kashmir’s economy and provides employment to around 33 lakh people.
Independent MLA from Shopian, Shabir Kullay, said the proposed railway line had raised “serious and legitimate” concerns among residents. “From the very outset, these concerns were consistently and responsibly highlighted through appropriate institutional and administrative channels. Following sustained engagement and constructive coordination with Union Ministers and senior Cabinet Ministers, the potential social and economic impact—particularly on orchards and valuable horticultural land—was carefully examined, ultimately leading to the cancellation of the project,” he said.
Kullay added that the decision reflected “a sensitive and balanced approach to development” by both the Centre and the UT government.
Concerns over land loss have intensified in recent years as Kashmir grapples with shrinking agricultural space. In December 2023, when the Railways sanctioned Final Location Surveys for five railway lines in Jammu and Kashmir—including doubling of the Baramulla–Banihal section and new lines such as Baramulla–Uri and Awantipora–Shopian—it triggered widespread unease in parts of South Kashmir.
While there was broad acceptance of the need for connectivity projects like Baramulla–Banihal and Baramulla–Uri, residents questioned the necessity of lines cutting through fertile orchard land in Shopian and Pahalgam.
With apple farming employing over 3.5 million people and contributing nearly 10 percent to the Valley’s GDP, critics argue that development that compromises agriculture risks undermine the backbone of Kashmir’s rural economy. The Valley has already lost nearly 6,000 hectares of paddy land over the past seven years due to unchecked construction, according to official data—adding urgency to demands for a more cautious approach to infrastructure expansion.
