Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Chenab bridge and flagged off the Vande Bharat Express on Friday, June 6, on his visit to Jammu and Kashmir, a first since Pahalgam terror attack.At around 11 am, PM Modi reached the Chenab Bridge site in Reasi district, where he inaugurated the world’s highest railway arch bridge. The 1,315 metre long steel bridge stands 359 m above the Chenab river.
“The new train service will help the netizens of Jammu and Kashmir by providing all-weather connectivity in the region,” PM Modi said while addressing the public gathering at Katra on June 6. “Railway project will boost economy and tourism in J&K, marking a turning point in its journey,” he added.
Chenab Bridge is part of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Railway Link (USBRL) project and is designed to withstand severe seismic and wind conditions. The bridge is taller than the Eiffel Tower by 35 m and was constructed with weather-resistant steel capable of enduring extreme temperatures ranging from -10 to 40 degrees Celsius.The project, built at a cost of ₹1,486 crore, was carried out by Konkan Railway Corporation Limited in collaboration with Ultra Construction, VSL India and Afcons Infrastructure. Anji bridge inauguration, Katra-Jammu Vande Bharat flag off The Prime Minister inaugurated the Anji Bridge as well, which is India’s first cable-stayed railway bridge. Built in difficult terrain, the structure is part of efforts to strengthen railway infrastructure in the region, a statement by the PM Office (PMO) read.
Following the bridge inauguration, PM Modi flagged off two Vande Bharat Express trains operating between Shri Mata Vaishno Devi shrine in Katra and Srinagar. The trains are expected to cut travel time between Katra and Srinagar to approximately three hours, reducing the current duration by 2-3 hours.Major infra project dedicated to J&K Prime Minister Modi inaugurated several major infrastructure projects aimed at boosting regional connectivity and development.PM Modi dedicated the 272-km Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link project to the nation. Constructed at a cost of ₹43,780 crore, the rail corridor includes 36 tunnels and 943 bridges and aims to ensure all-weather rail connectivity between Kashmir and the rest of the country, said the PMO statement. In a push for last-mile connectivity, the PM laid the foundation stones for various road development projects. These include the widening of the Rafiabad-Kupwara road on National Highway (NH)-701, construction of the Shopian bypass on NH-444, and flyovers at Sangrama and Bemina junctions.PM Modi also laid the foundation stone of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of medical Excellence in Katra. The ₹350 crore facility will be the first medical college in Reasi district and is expected to improve healthcare access in the region. PM Modi said that the MBBS seats in J&K has increased to 1,300. “The government is committed for development of the Jammu and Kashmir,” he said, adding that the government is committed for the welfare of the people in the region.Tight security measures in place Given the sensitivity of the region, a multi-tiered security setup was put in place ahead of the Prime Minister’s visit, involving the Special Protection Group (SPG), Indian Army, CAPFs and local police forces.
