Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday flagged off two Wande Bharat Express trains from Katra railway station, directly linking Jammu Division to Kashmir.
It is a major milestone in the railway connectivity of Jammu and Kashmir.
Before flagging the trains, Prime Minister Modi interacted with school children and also spoke with members of the railway staff present in the train.
The new Vande Bharat Express service will reduce the time of travel between Katra and Srinagar to about 3 hours from the road from the current 6-7 hours. The purpose of trains is to provide a sharp, comfortable and reliable travel option for residents, tourists and pilgrims.
The train will run through the Anji Khad Bridge, which is India’s first cable-state railway bridge and Chenb Bridge, the world’s highest railway bridge.
These trains are especially designed to operate under the cold climatic conditions of the Kashmir Valley.
Earlier today, Prime Minister Modi inaugurated the world’s tallest railway Arch Bridge-‘Chenb Railway Bridge’ and India’s first cable-sided ‘Fort Bridge’ in Rasi districts of Jammu and Kashmir.
In a remarkable gesture, Prime Minister Modi waved the Indian national flag and pushed it forward on the deck of the bridge over the Chenab River.
Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav were present during the inauguration.
Prior to the inauguration of the bridge on Chenab, the Prime Minister inspected the Railway Arch Bridge.
These bridges are part of the ambitious Bitur-Srinagar-Babramula railway link (USBRL) project in Jammu and Kashmir.
The world’s highest railway Arch Bridge, the prestigious Chenab Railway Bridge, is part of the Katra-to-Sangaldon Stretch, which connects Kashmir directly to Kashmir with Kashmir. Located in Rasi district of Jammu and Kashmir, Chenb Bridge is an engineering Marvel standing at an altitude of 359 meters above the river. This will officially connect the Kashmir Valley through rail with the rest of India for the first time in history.
The project faced several engineering and logistic challenges due to the difficult terrain of the region and seismic sensitivity. Nevertheless, after years of careful work, the bridge now stands as a will for India’s technical skills and commitment to inclusive development.
It marks a transformative chapter in the infrastructural landscape of India, which promises greater connectivity, economic growth and social integration in the region.
The Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project is a 272 km long USBRL project, which is constructed around Rs 43,780 crore, including 36 tunnels (119 km and 943 bridge spread).
The project establishes all weather, spontaneous rail connectivity between the Kashmir Valley and the rest of the country, aiming to change regional mobility and run socio-economic integration. (AI)