Jammu, Mar 31: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will flag off the first Vande Bharat train to Kashmir on April 19 from Katra, marking a significant milestone in the completion of the 272-kilometre Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla rail link project.
While speaking to reporters in Jammu, Union Minister Jitendra Singh as per news agency JKNS said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Udhampur on April 19. During his visit, he will inspect and inaugurate the world’s highest railway bridge before flagging off the Vande Bharat train from Katra.
Officials sources privy to development told news agency JKNS that the Jammu-Katra-Srinagar Vande Bharat Express will initially operate from Katra as renovation work is ongoing at Jammu railway station. The train’s trial runs on the Katra-Baramulla route have been successfully conducted, with the Commissioner of Railway Safety approving the service in January.
Union Minister Jitendra Singh, speaking to reporters in Jammu, confirmed that PM Modi will also visit the world’s highest railway bridge over the Chenab River before inaugurating the train service. The project, initiated in 1997, overcame multiple geological and topographical challenges, featuring 38 tunnels, 927 bridges, and the iconic Chenab Bridge, which stands 35 meters taller than the Eiffel Tower. (JKNS)
