JAMMU, June 4: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lay foundation stone, inaugurate and dedicate to the nation multiple development projects worth over Rs 46,000 crore at holy town of Katra, the base camp of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Ji shrine, on Friday when he flags off first train to Kashmir ending years-old wait of direct train to the Valley.Modi will flag off two Vande Bharat Express trains from Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra to Srinagar and back on June 6 from Katra Railway Station.
“The trains will offer a swift, comfortable, and reliable travel option for residents, tourists, pilgrims among others,” an official statement issued ahead of the Prime Minister’s first visit to Jammu during Operation Sindoor and post April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, said.
PM will lay foundation stone and inaugurate various road projects with a view to boost to last mile connectivity especially in the border areas of Jammu and Kashmir. The foundation stone laying ceremony and inauguration of projects will be done virtually from Katra.
He will lay the foundation stone of road widening project from Rafiabad to Kupwara on National Highway-701 and the construction of Shopian bypass road on NH-444 worth over Rs 1,952 crore.
He will also inaugurate two flyover projects at Sangrama Junction on National Highway-1 in Srinagar and at Bemina Junction on National Highway-44. These projects will ease traffic congestion and enhance traffic flow for the commuters, the statement said.
The Prime Minister will lay the foundation stone of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence in Katra worth over Rs 350 crore. It will be the first Medical College in Reasi district contributing substantially to the healthcare infrastructure in the region.
In line with his commitment to boost rail infrastructure and connectivity in the region, the Prime Minister will inaugurate the Chenab bridge, the highest railway bridge in the world with height more that Eiffel tower of Paris and visit the bridge deck at around 11 AM on June 6.Thereafter, he will visit and inaugurate the Anji bridge, the first cable stayed bridge in the country. He will flag off Vande Bharat Trains at around 12 noon from Katra Railway Station. “The architectural marvel Chenab Rail Bridge, situated at a height of 359 meters above the river, is the world’s highest railway arch bridge. It is a 1,315-metre-long steel arch bridge engineered to withstand seismic and wind conditions.
“A key impact of the bridge will be in enhancing connectivity between Jammu and Srinagar. Through Vande Bharat train moving on the bridge, it will take just about 3 hours to travel between Katra and Srinagar, reducing existing travel time by 2-3 hours,” the official statement said.
It added that the Anji Bridge is India’s first cable-stayed rail bridge that will serve the nation in a challenging terrain.
Modi will also dedicate Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project to the nation. The 272-km long USBRL project, constructed worth around Rs 43,780 crore includes 36 tunnels (spanning 119 km) and 943 bridges. The project establishes all-weather, seamless rail connectivity between the Kashmir valley and the rest of the country aiming to transform regional mobility and driving socio-economic integration.
