Srinagar: Terming security of passengers as a “priority,” Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Sunday said that people should not object to swapping trains at Katra Railway Station if it ensures their safety. However in a sudden change of heart, the JKNC Vice President has now said that ‘no change of train will be supported’ by the government even as saying it would “defeat the very purpose of the line and render the thousands of crores of investment pointless.”

Talking to reporters earlier in the day in Gulmarg, the CM said, “If there are security concerns, then I don’t think there should be any objections. After all, whosoever travels by train wishes for their safety and security, and so do we.”

Omar said that until the region achieves complete normalcy, such measures should be acceptable. “If it’s to avert any threat then it’s fine. At the end of the day, safety must come first,” he said, adding, “It’s ultimately up to the railway authorities to decide, and I hope whatever decision they take is made keeping the people in mind.”

In a sudden change of opinion, Omar this evening only voiced his opposition to reported swapping of trains at Katra for travel to Kashmir Valley, underling that it would “defeat the very purpose of the line and render the thousands of crores of investment pointless.”

“Just to remove any chance of any misunderstanding, while we understand the need to secure the train & the passengers who will travel using it, making passengers change trains will defeat the very purpose of the line and render the thousands of crores of investment pointless,” Chief Minister said in a post on ‘X’.

“Check the train/passengers in Katra or Jammu sure but NO change of train will be supported by us,” he said, adding, “That said there is no concrete proposal & when there is we will give our inputs/suggestions.”

Notably a media report recently said that all trains traveling to Srinagar or returning to New Delhi will make a stop at Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Railway Station in Jammu for transshipment.

“Trains either coming from Srinagar or returning to New Delhi will stop at Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Railway Station in Katra, Jammu, where passengers will have to board another train to complete their journey,” ETV Bharat quoted officials as saying.

(With inputs from news agency KNO & GNS)