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| Vande Bharat brings Jammu, Srinagar closer | | Train to chug between two capitals from March 1, cover distance in 5 hours | | | Early Times Report
Jammu, Feb 24: In a major boost to rail connectivity in Jammu and Kashmir, passengers will soon be able to travel between Jammu and Srinagar in just about five hours as the Vande Bharat Express is set to commence operations from Jammu on March 1.
The inaugural run on the same day will mark the formal extension of the train service beyond its existing terminal at Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra to Jammu. So far, the semi-high-speed train has been operating between Katra and Srinagar, requiring passengers from Jammu to travel by road to Katra to board the train.
With the new arrangement, commuters will be able to board the Vande Bharat directly from Jammu, eliminating the need for a change of transport at Katra and ensuring a seamless rail journey to the Kashmir Valley.
Railway officials said the enhanced service will significantly reduce travel time between Jammu and Srinagar to approximately five hours, making it one of the fastest modes of travel between the ... | |
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FRONT PAGE STORIES |
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| Cabinet approves expansion of Srinagar Airport to 71,500 Sqmt; to invest Rs 1,677 crore | | | | Early Times Report
New Delhi, Feb 24: The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday approved the development of the Civil Enclave at Srinagar International Airport proposed at an estimated cost of Rs 1,677 crore.
While announcing the decision, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said, “The new Civil Enclave project, spread over 73.18 acres, will feature a state-of-the-art terminal building spanning 71,500 square meters, including 20,659 square meters of existing structure, designed to serve 2,900 passengers during peak hours and an annual capacity of 10 million passengers per annum (MPPA).”
As per the cabinet announcement, the expanded apron ... | |
| | | | LG thanks PM Modi, says J&K skies soar | | |  Early Times Report
Jammu, Feb 24: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Tuesday expressed gratitude to the Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi for approving the development of the Civil Enclave at Srinagar International Airport proposed at an estimated cost of Rs.1,677 crore.
In a post on X, the Lieutenant Governor has said:
“J&K Skies Soar: dawn of a bold aviation era. I am grateful to Hon’ble PM Sh Narendra Modi Ji for major expansion of Civil Enclave at Srinagar International Airpo... | |
| | | | Don’t ignore MEA advisory, return: CM to Kashmiri students, workers in Iran | | | | Early Times Report
Ganderbal, Feb 24: Calling upon Kashmiri students and workers in Iran to take a serious note of the advisory issued by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and return, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday reiterated that he won’t allow harassment of Kashmiri students in any part of the country.
Talking to the reporters here, CM Omar, according to the news agency, “The students and workers in Iran should take the advisory issued by the MEA seriously. Please do not ignore the advisory. If the situation worsens, evacuation may become difficult. My request is to book tickets and return. If things remain normal, you can go back later.”
Asked about the reports abo... | |
| | | | Direct drug supply to Kashmir exposed: 2 Punjab peddlers nabbed with heroin | | |  Early Times Report
Jammu, Feb 24: In a major breakthrough that has sent shockwaves through narcotics networks operating in the Valley, the Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) Kashmir has arrested two Punjab-based drug peddlers in separate operations in Srinagar and Budgam districts, busting what officials describe as a direct supply chain of heroin into Jammu and Kashmir. The arrests have lent credence to intelligence reports suggesting that traffickers are no longer relying solely on local mid... | |
| | | | First-ever DDCs in J&K complete term; fresh poll dates still unclear | | | | Early Times Report
Jammu, Feb 24: The five-year tenure of the first-ever District Development Councils (DDCs) in Jammu and Kashmir formally ended on Monday, leaving the Union Territory without any elected representation across its three-tier Panchayati Raj system.
The DDC elections were conducted for the first time in November–December 2020, marking the completion of the three-tier grassroots democratic structure in the Union Territory after the reorganisation of the erstwhile state in 2019. The councils were formally constituted through a government notification issued on February 25, 2021, and their term concluded on February 24, 2026.
In the maiden DDC polls, the erstwhile People’... | |
| | | | In 2025, rain fury left 152 dead, 21,000 structures damaged | | | | Early Times Report
Jammu, Feb 24: The rain fury in Jammu and Kashmir last year claimed 152 lives, injured 179 people, damaged nearly 21,000 structures — mostly residential houses — while 1515 livestock perished, official data revealed.
Of the total fatalities, 151 were reported from the worst-hit Jammu division and one from Kashmir valley, the data compiled by the Disaster Management, Relief, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Department (DMRRRD) said.
Official sources said the dead included about 100 pilgrims who lost their lives in a cloudburst and a landslide enroute to Machail Mata shrine in Kishtwar district and Vaishno Devi shrine in Reasi district in August.
A devastating cloudb... | |
| | | | 3.89 lakh court cases pending in Jammu and Kashmir | | |  Early Times Report
JAMMU, Feb 24: Subordinate courts across Jammu and Kashmir are grappling with a pendency of 3,89,210 cases till January-end, with criminal matters accounting for nearly two-thirds of the total backlog and over 58,000 cases lingering between five to 30 years, official data shows. The government is actively pursuing multiple measures to tackle the persistent pendency of cases in the high court and subordinate courts of Jammu and Kashmir, alongside efforts to fill judicial va... | |
| | | | Govt designates JKBOSE, SSSA as nodal agency for Teachers Eligibility Test | | |  Early Times Report
Jammu, Feb 24: The Government of Jammu and Kashmir has designated the Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education (JKBOSE) and State School Standards Authority (SSSA) as the Nodal Agency for conducting the Teachers Eligibility Test (TET) across the Union Territory, in compliance with the judgment of the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India.
As per Government Order No. 87-JK (Edu) of 2026, issued by the School Education Department, Civil Secretariat, J&K, the move follows detai... | |
| | | | Committee formed to fix transport fee | | | | Early Times Report
JAMMU, Feb 24: In compliance with the directions of the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, the government has constituted a committee to determine the transport fee structure for private schools across the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir.
According to an order issued by the Fee Fixation and Regulation Committee (FFRC), the panel has been formed in pursuance of directions passed in writ petition (C No. 10702). The High Court had directed constitution of a committee comprising the Commissioner/Secretary to the Government, Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution Department; Commissioner/Secretary to the Government, Transport Department; Ashish Gupta, Special S... | |
| | | | ‘Tyson’ recovering well: Army | | | | Early Times Report
Jammu, Feb 24: Army canine soldier ‘Tyson’, a German Shepherd who took the first bullet while leading troops during Operation Trashi-I in Kishtwar district, is recovering well, officials said on Tuesday.
The heroics of the four-legged soldier contributed to the killing of Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) commander Saifullah and his two associates inside their hideout – a mudhouse (dhok) in the foothills of a hill – at Passerkut in the Chatroo belt on Sunday.
“In the recent operation Trashi-I at Kishtwar, assault dog ‘Tyson’, displayed extraordinary courage by taking the first bullet while leading the entry into the terrorists’ hideout. Undeterred by his injuries... | |
| | | | CRPF jawan shoots self dead | | | | Early Times Report
SRINAGAR, Feb 24: A CRPF jawan allegedly committed suicide by shooting himself with his service rifle in Anantnag district, officials said on Tuesday.
The deceased has been identified as constable Ajeet Singh of 96 battalion of the CRPF.
He was posted as CRPF driver at SICOP area in Bijbehara in the south Kashmir district. ... | |
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