News Brief
First-Ever Train Connecting Jammu To Kashmir Set To Be Flagged Off By PM Modi In February: Report
Chenab bridge on USBRL project (Ministry Of Railways/ X)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to inaugurate the maiden train connecting Jammu to Kashmir in the first or second week of February, ETV Bharat reported citing Indian Railways sources.
The final date for the inauguration is yet to be confirmed as the Railways is awaiting approval from the Prime Minister's Office.
Prime Minister Modi will flag off the train from Katra, according to the sources cited in the report.a
"The tentative plan for PM's visit is that on the day of the inauguration, he will land at Jammu airport and fly in a chopper to Chenab bridge, the highest railway bridge in the world. After that he will fly to Katra railway station and will flag off the Vande Bharat train to Kashmir," a source was quoted as saying by ETV Bharat.
Following the flagging-off ceremony, the Prime Minister is expected to address a public rally.
Ahead of the formal inauguration of the train service between Katra and Srinagar, a trial run for the Vande Bharat train have been scheduled for 24 and 25 January.
Earlier last week, Commissioner Railway Safety (CRS) of Norther Railways, Dinesh Chand Deshwal, gave a green signal to run the train at the maximum speed of 85 km per hour on the Jammu-Kashmir route.
During the final trial run of the train, which the CRS monitored himself, the train chugged at the speed of 110 km per hour.
The start of a direct train service to Kashmir will benefit J&K whereas trade and tourism of Kashmir valley will also increase.
