Union Minister Jitendra Singh said, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will reach Udhampur on April 19. He will visit and inaugurate the world’s highest railway bridge. After this, he will flag off the Vande Bharat train from Katra.
Vande Bharat: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will flag off the first Vande Bharat train for Kashmir from Katra on April 19, completing the 272-km-long Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla rail link project. The Jammu-Katra-Srinagar Vande Bharat Express will initially operate from Katra as repair and renovation work is being carried out at the Jammu railway station. Officials said the rail link project was completed last month. The Railway Safety Commissioner approved the train service between Katra and Kashmir in January. Officials say the Vande Bharat Express will significantly reduce travel time between Jammu and Srinagar and provide modern and efficient rail service to the region.
PM will flag off on April 19
Talking about this, Union Minister Jitendra Singh told reporters on Sunday, “Prime Minister Narendra Modi will reach Udhampur on April 19. He will visit and inaugurate the world’s highest railway bridge. After this, he will flag off the Vande Bharat train from Katra.” With this, the long-standing demand for direct rail connectivity to Kashmir will be fulfilled. Let us tell you that at present, train services operate only between Sangaldan and Baramulla in the valley and from Katra to destinations across the country.
These are the reasons why it took time to complete the project
Officials said that the ambitious project to connect Kashmir by rail was started in 1997. But its completion was delayed due to geological, geographical and weather related challenges. The project includes 38 tunnels of total length of 119 km, the longest of which is T-49 which is 12.75 km long. It is also the longest transport tunnel in the country.
The world’s highest railway bridge is also a part of the project
The project also includes 927 bridges with a total length of 13 km. These include the iconic Chenab Bridge, which has a total length of 1,315 metres. Its arch span is 467 metres and it is 359 metres above the river bed. Being 35 metres higher than the Eiffel Tower, it will be the world’s highest arch railway bridge (arch bridge).
