On Friday, June 6, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Jammu and Kashmir and officially open the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL).
PM Narendra Modi will launch the first Delhi-Srinagar Vande Bharata Express, the first train to directly connect the Kashmir Valley with the rest of India, at railway stations throughout the valley, which have been decked out for the event. The Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine’s base town, Katra, will be traversed by the train.
Security has been increased throughout the area in the run-up to the event, particularly in Katra city in Reasi district and Ramban, where police officers used dog squads to check cars. A high alert has also been issued for the Udhampur railway station.
The 272-km train route, which was constructed at a cost of ₹43,780 crore, passes through some of the Himalayas’ most difficult terrain.
The project includes 943 bridges that cross rivers, gorges, and mountain passes, 36 main tunnels that span around 120 km, and eight escape tunnels, according to a PIB announcement.
It took more than thirty years to finish the USBRL project. An official press release states that the concept of a train connection between the Kashmir valley and the rest of India was initially proposed in the 1970s. After receiving official approval in 1994, the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government approved financing for land acquisition, and building got underway in 2002.
Union Minister Jitendra Singh and J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah inspected preparations at the Katra station on Thursday. “If I say that I have been waiting for this day for a long time, it won’t be an exaggeration,” Abdullah stated. “I think I started this project in class seven or eight when I was in school. My kids have finished their schooling and are now employed as well.
Ashwini Vaishnaw, the minister of railways, called the project a watershed in the integration of Jammu & Kashmir with the rest of India. According to the ministry, “this will improve trade, tourism, and mobility.”
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In the meanwhile, the Vande Bharat Express will operate between Katra and Srinagar, cutting down on travel time and providing a more pleasant and safe alternative to driving or flying, particularly in the winter when the Srinagar-Jammu route is frequently closed. The idea intends to eliminate the expensive airfares and seasonal transportation isolation in Kashmir.
