Bijbehara–Pahalgam rail line opposition intensifies in J&K

Bijbehara–Pahalgam rail line opposition is intensifying in Jammu & Kashmir, with residents and political figures warning that land acquisition could take away valuable farms and apple orchards and hurt livelihoods, as reported by The Economic Times.

This is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

Bijbehara is a historic town in Anantnag district in south Kashmir, located about 45 km from Srinagar. Those opposing the proposal say land acquisition fears in south Kashmir are rising because the proposed railway alignment would cut across agricultural holdings and apple orchard lands in several villages.

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Bijbehara–Pahalgam rail line opposition focuses on land and livelihoods

On Sunday, Mian Altaf, the MP from Anantnag-Poonch, met residents of Wulherhama village, whose orchards and agricultural plots fall along the proposed route. He said the rail link would not benefit anyone, arguing it would serve “no purpose” for the Centre, the J&K government, or the people of the state.

Altaf also appealed to LG Manoj Sinha and CM Omar Abdullah to intervene and write to the Centre on the issue, a position also reflected in local reporting by Greater Kashmir.

Surveys since Dec 2025 add to protests in Anantnag district (J&K)

Opposition has been voiced in several south Kashmir villages since Dec 2025, after surveys for the Bijbehara railway alignment were conducted in multiple locations. National Conference MLA from Bijbehara, Bashir Ahmad Veeri, has described the plan as “ill-conceived” and against public interest.

NH-501 questions and calls to scrap the rail proposal

NC MLA from Pahalgam Altaf Kaloo raised similar objections, questioning the need for the line and pointing to the existing road to Pahalgam and the parallel route declared NH-501, with land demarcated. With land scarce and a significant portion already acquired for NH-501, he asked why there should be another 40-km “zig zag” railway line that, in his view, would not help, as outlined by The Times of India.

On January 22, PDP neta Iltija Mufti visited the area and termed the plan detrimental and environmentally unviable. She appealed to railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw to scrap it entirely.

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