By Shishir Prashant 
PrashantNews
The tourism which was badly affected by the Pahalgam massacre on April 22 last year in Kashmir Valley may be back on an even keel.
But the newly introduced Jammu-Srinagar Vande Bharat Express is all set to boost tourism prospects further in the Kashmir Valley, experts said on Sunday. The train service was on April 30 was extended to Jammu city from the Katra-Srinagar route.
But experts said it is not just tourism which will get a flip in the Valley. The fastest train would also give a big boost to the trade of apples and other products in Kashmir.
“Two crore Kg of Apples has already been transported from Kashmir Valley to the Rest of the Country,” said Railway Minister Ashwani Vaishnav after the flagging off the first Jammu-Srinagar train. Vaishnav said Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has confirmed that the tourism is back to the pre-Pahalgam terror attack level.
Vaishnav also hoped that inward cement supplies would help reduce prices in the Kashmir Valley by ₹50 per bag.
The railway line has significantly improved cargo movement in the Valley reducing transportation costs and ensuring smoother logistics for essential goods such as fertilizers and dairy products like milk. Besides apples, cherries are also being transported through parcel services, enhancing market access for local farmers.
With One Interchange at Jammu, access to Kashmir Valley can be made from anywhere in India, he said.
“The extension of Vande Bharat to Jammu was basically done to boost tourism and businesses of local products in Kashmir,” said a top Railway official.