Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Jammu and Kashmir’s Reasi district on Friday has generated considerable excitement, particularly at the Katra railway station. Students, locals, and tourists gathered to welcome him and witness the launch of two new Vande Bharat trains connecting Shri Mata Vaishno Devi, Katra, to Srinagar.
During his visit, PM Modi is set to inaugurate the Chenab Bridge, touted as the world’s highest railway bridge, along with other infrastructure projects collectively valued at Rs 46,000 crore.
Students present at the station, amidst tight security, expressed their enthusiasm, anticipating that the new train services will significantly boost the local economy and tourism. One student remarked, “We have come here to welcome Modi ji. The first Vande Bharat train will go from here… As India is developing, different states are developing too. I am very excited for this train.” Another student highlighted the positive impact on regional development, stating, “We are happy that Katra is developing. It is a platform to show the region too… And for the first time, the Vande Bharat will be going from here. I am very excited. I am getting goosebumps for his visit.”
Tourists in the region for sightseeing and the Vande Bharat launch also shared their excitement. Jaiswal, a tourist from Banaras and PM Modi’s constituency, conveyed his eagerness for the trains to commence operations, emphasizing the unprecedented nature of the rail link to Srinagar over the massive Chenab Bridge. “Now the rail is going to Srinagar, that too over such a big bridge which no one had thought about before… This is the world’s highest railway bridge. We did not expect such a thing,” he said, adding that he would prefer Vande Bharat for future trips to Srinagar. He expressed disappointment at not being able to board the Srinagar Vande Bharat on Friday, as its operations were scheduled to begin the following day.
Ahead of the Prime Minister’s visit, security measures have been intensified across Udhampur and Reasi districts, with increased inspections and vigilance, especially in Katra.
The Katra-Srinagar Vande Bharat will operate on the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL). This 272 km long project, built at an approximate cost of Rs 43,780 crore, includes 36 tunnels spanning 119 km and 943 bridges.
