Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Friday flagged off Kashmir's first train service and dedicated to the nation the 450-MW Baglihar hydro electric power project even as the Election Commission set the J&K poll process moving.

The prime minister flagged of the brand new train at Nowgam railway station amid tight security amidst a separatists-sponsored shutdown in the Valley against his visit and violent protests that left two persons dead in police firing and 75 others injured.

The regular service of the train will commence from 12 October. The trains are provided with wide windows and the coaches are made of unbreakable and splinter proof polycarbonate sheets.

The train will run from Rajwansher in Budgam district to Anantnag, covering a distance of 66 km, in the first phase and the fare would be Rs15.

The railway project that will connect Udhampur to Baramulla is estimated to cost Rs11,270 crore.

The Baglihar dam, the third on the river Chenab in Ramban district of Jammu and Kashmir, has 450 MW generating capacity and took around nine-and-a-half years to build.

The other two projects on the Chenab include the Reasi-based 360-MW Salal project, which was commissioned in 1994 and Kishtwar-based 390-MW Dulhasti, which was dedicated on 26 April this year.

Two other projects have been set up on the rivers Jehlum and Sindh – the Lower Jehlum Project with 105 MW and Upper Sindh with 127 MW capacities.

J&K has about 20,000 MW of hydro-power potential and nearly 23 minor and major hydro projects are in the pipeline.

The prime minister's theme for the J&K visit, which many see as his effort to 'regain Kashmir' prior to polls, was a peaceful co-existence with Pakistan. He said a stable and peaceful Pakistan was in the interest of India and he even referred to cooperation with Pakistan on Kashmir.

The Election Commission, meanwhile, held a meeting with Union home secretary Madhukar Gupta and reviewed the situation prevailing in Jammu and Kashmir for holding assembly elections.

Sources said that the commission discussed the security requirements and other arrangements necessary for holding the elections in the state, which is under President's rule. Elections are to be held by 10 January 2009.