Blitz Bureau
NEW DELHI: PRIME Minister Narendra Modi will flag off the first Vande Bharat train to Kashmir from Katra on April 19, marking the completion of the 272 km Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla rail stretch project.
Union Minister Jitendra Singh said, “Prime Minister Narendra Modi will arrive in Udhampur on April 19. He will visit the world’s highest railway bridge and inaugurate it. After that, he will flag off the Vande Bharat train from Katra.” The inauguration will fulfil the long-awaited demand for a direct rail connectivity to Kashmir. At present, train services are only operational between the valley’s Sangaldan and Baramulla and from Katra, to all across the nation.
The much-awaited rail project, which began in 1997, faced multiple delays due to tough terrain. It includes 38 tunnels, 927 bridges, and the 1,315-meter-long Chenab Bridge, which is taller than the Eiffel Tower. According to officials, the train will significantly cut travel time between Jammu and Srinagar, improving connectivity for the region. The rail link project was completed last month, officials said, adding that trial runs of the train on the Katra-Baramulla link have also been conducted successfully. The train service between Katra and Kashmir was also approved by the Commissioner of Railway Safety, officials were cited as saying by a news agency PTI report.
