Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Friday addressed a range of infrastructure and connectivity issues in the Rajya Sabha during a lively Question Hour and Zero Hour session, including the possibility of Metro services in Jammu, delays in rail projects due to land and environmental hurdles, and demands for premium train connectivity.
During Question Hour, BJP-nominated MP Gulam Ali raised a query regarding plans for a Metro system in Jammu. Responding to the question, Vaishnaw said the matter would be referred to Urban Affairs Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, who handles Metro projects, but noted the technical challenges of operating rail systems in high-altitude regions such as Jammu and Kashmir.
“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 take a decision on it,” the minister said, indicating progress toward customised rail solutions for the region.
He also stated that the Railways would not lay spurs from the main railway line where they could adversely affect apple orchards, noting that farmers have raised concerns over such alignments.
During Zero Hour, Vaishnaw highlighted obstacles affecting railway expansion projects, particularly those linked to land acquisition and environmental clearances. Referring to Kerala’s proposed Silver Line semi-high-speed rail project, he said it carries significant environmental implications and stressed that land acquisition remains a major bottleneck for several pending railway works across states.
He called for greater cooperation from state governments to help expedite nationally important infrastructure projects.
Raising a separate demand, BJP MP from Maharashtra Dr Medha Vishram Kulkarni urged the introduction of a Vande Bharat Sleeper train on the Delhi–Pune route, citing high passenger demand and workforce mobility between the two cities.
Commenting on the long-pending Angamaly–Sabarimala rail project in Kerala, which has been stalled due to land disputes, Vaishnaw said land acquisition would move forward when there is supportive governance in the state, drawing attention amid ongoing political debate over infrastructure push in opposition-ruled states.
