New Delhi: Days after India conducted Operation Sindoor against nine terror camps in Pakistan in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to visit Jammu and Kashmir’s Katara on June 6.
During his visit, the Prime Minister is likely to flag off the train from Katra to Kashmir Valley. Sharing the information, officials said, “The Prime Minister could flag off the Vande Bharat train services from Katra in Jammu division to Baramulla on June 6. All preparations for the train services have been given the final touches.”
Train services were earlier scheduled to start on April 19
It may be noted here that the Vande Bharat train service to Kashmir was earlier scheduled to start on April 19. However, the inauguration was postponed due to inclement weather. The latest train service will benefit those visiting the Amarnath Yatra. This year, the yatra will start on July 3 and end on August 9.
While the PM will flag off the train from Katra to Baramulla, he will virtually launch another train from Baramulla to Katra. After attending a public rally, the Prime Minister will visit the world’s highest railway bridge over the Chenab River. Apart from this, he will also attend the first cable-stayed bridge on the railway track in Reasi, before inaugurating train services from Katra. Notably, with a no direct train from Delhi or any other part to Kashmir, passengers will have to change trains from Baramulla.
It is important to note here that out of 272 km in total, the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project, 209 km was commissioned in phases. The first phase of the 118 km Qazigund-Baramulla section was commissioned in October 2009. This was followed by an 18 km Banihal-Qazigund in June 2013, a 25 km long Udhampur-Katra in July 2014, and a 48.1 km long Banihal-Sangaldan stretch in February 2024.
