Srinagar, 23 May: For years, Jammu-Kashmir lagged behind other parts of the nation in railway connection, but with the Bharatiya Janata Party’s leadership at the federal level, tremendous progress has been achieved in tying the region to the rest of the nation.
Following the 25-kilometer Udhampur-Katra railway line’s official opening in July 2014, Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave the populace the assurance that Kashmir will be linked to and integrated with the rest of the nation under his leadership. The current administration is prepared to keep the promise made by Prime Minister Modi. By the end of the year, a railway network will link Kanyakumari to Baramulla in North Kashmir. The construction of the rail connection between Katra and Banihal was accelerated during PM Modi’s first term. While in his second term, Prime Minister Modi set a timetable for the train project that would provide Kashmir all-weather connection to be finished.
In 1997, the first stone was laid for the railway project that will link Kashmir and Kanyakumari. However, the project’s development progressed rather slowly. But under PM Modi, finishing it was given particular priority.
Officials claim that up until 2014, the Northern Railways received just 700–800 crores of rupees annually. However, the J-K railway project received Rs 6,000 crore from the 2023–24 Railway Budget.
The specifically constructed “Vande Bharat” trains will also run in the area by next year. The railway line between Kashmir and Kanyakumari is scheduled to be finished this year.
The Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla railway line project is now nearing completion. Major tunnels and the Chenab and Anji bridges are also getting close to completion.
The Chenab railway bridge, one of the tallest structures in the world and taller than the Eiffel Tower, is regarded as a “engineering marvel.”
Temperature and snow were two of the factors that were considered while making these unique trains for Kashmir. Everything has been thoroughly investigated, including high-velocity winds, harsh temperatures, earthquake-prone regions, and hydrological effects.
On August 5, 2019, the BJP-led Centre revoked J-K’s special status. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had pledged that J-K will get the greatest infrastructure and amenities in the nation and the globe.
The last municipality in North Kashmir, Uri, would also be linked with a rail network, according to a Northern Railway announcement made in the coming days.
