Srinagar, Feb. 4 -- Union minister of railways Ashwini Vaishnaw has announced to halt the proposed Anantnag-Pahalgam railway line after the J&K government and MPs from the UT objected to the proposal as the project could have resulted in axing of thousands of apple trees in orchards. The decision has been welcomed by political leadership in the Valley as the NC said the credit goes to chief minister Omar Abdullah for raising this issue with the Union railways minister and the central government. The Railways was planning to construct a railway line from Anantnag to Pahalgam, however, after the proposed line would have passed through apple orchards, locals as well political parties demanded rescinding of this project as it was threatening the livelihood of thousands of villagers. Vaishnaw today said that three projects which were connected to the Srinagar-Baramulla railway line have been put on hold after the J&K government and MPs raised the concern that apple trees will get uprooted by these projects. "After opposition from MPs and the J&K government these three projects have been put on hold," Vaishnaw said in New Delhi. People in south Kashmir held protests when they came to know that the proposed railway line between Anantnag and Pahalgam passes through their apple orchards which for majority were the only source of income. Former chief minister and PDP president Mehbooba Mufti said this decision has brought relief for people. "The decision to put the Pahalgam and Shopian railway lines on hold brings much needed relief to Kashmir's agrarian economy. These projects threatened to destroy scarce fertile land and push over a million rural families into uncertainty. Development that uproots farmers is not progress. Any future plan must be reviewed transparently, with farmers and local communities taken on board, to protect Kashmir's economy and social fabric. @AshwaniKumar (Railway Minister)," Mufti wrote on X. NC spokesman Imran Nabi thanked J&K chief minister Omar Abdullah for his timely intervention which led to halting of this proposed project. "Thankful to CM Omar Abdullah, our MPs for this necessary and critical intervention halting the proposed railway track between Anantnag-Pahalgam and Anantnag-Shopian, thereby ensuring safety of people's livelihoods, orchards. This is the government that listens to people's concerns and acts on it," he said....