PM Modi : Kashmir Train
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will flag off the first Vande Bharat train to Kashmir from Jammu’s Katra on April 19, marking the completion of the 272 km Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla rail stretch project, Union minister Jitendra Singh informed on Sunday.
The Jammu-Katra-Srinagar Vande Bharat Express will initially run from Katra, owing to the renovation works taking place at the Jammu station.
The rail link project was completed last month, officials said, adding that trial runs of the train on the Katra-Baramulla link have also been conducted successfully. The train service between Katra and Kashmir was also approved by the Commissioner of Railway Safety, officials were cited as saying by a news agency PTI report.
PM Modi : PM in Udhampur on April 19
Meanwhile, Union minister Jitendra Singh told reporters, “Prime Minister Narendra Modi will arrive in Udhampur on April 19. He will visit the world’s highest railway bridge and inaugurate it. After that, he will flag off the Vande Bharat train from Katra.”
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The inauguration will finally meet the long-standing demand for direct rail connectivity to Kashmir. Currently, train services operate only between Sangaldan and Baramulla in the valley, and from Katra to the rest of the country.
The ambitious project to connect Kashmir by rail started in 1997 but encountered multiple delays due to the region’s complex geological, topographical, and meteorological conditions, officials explained.
The project, which includes 38 tunnels, spans a total distance of 119 km. Of these, the longest tunnel stretches up to a distance of 12.75 km (Tunnel T-49). This is also India’s largest longest transportation tunnel, the report mentioned.
Vande Bharat Train : Vande Bharat train passes through world’s highest bridge in first J&K trial run | Watch
The rail link project includes 927 bridges, spanning a total of 13 kilometers. Among them is the remarkable Chenab Bridge, which stretches 1,315 meters in length, features a 467-meter arch span, and towers 359 meters above the river. Surpassing the Eiffel Tower by 35 meters, the Chenab Bridge will claim the title of the world’s highest arch railway bridge.
Officials noted that the Vande Bharat Express on the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla route is expected to significantly cut travel time between Jammu and Srinagar, offering a faster and more efficient rail service in the region.
PM Modi : Chenab Bridge: An Engineering Marvel
A pivotal component of this rail link is the Chenab Bridge, acclaimed as the world’s highest railway bridge. Standing 359 meters above the Chenab River, it surpasses the height of the Eiffel Tower by 35 meters. The bridge spans 1,315 meters with an arch span of 467 meters. Constructed to withstand 8.0-magnitude earthquakes, 160 mph winds, and temperatures as low as -68°F, the bridge showcases remarkable engineering resilience. The construction involved installing steel trestles and concrete pillars into the rocky walls of the river valley, utilizing massive 3,000-foot cable cranes positioned on opposite banks. Currently, train services operate between Sangaldan and Baramulla in the valley, and from Katra to various parts of the country.
