The completion of the Udhampur-Katra-Srinagar-Baramulla rail link project will not only give a boost to tourism in the region, but will also provide a safe mode of transport for people commuting to and from the Kashmir Valley.
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav on Sunday conducted the first trial run of a tracked vehicle on the world’s highest railway bridge over Chenab river in Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir.
The trial run is an important milestone in the completion of the Udhampur-Katra-Srinagar-Baramulla rail link, which will connect the valley to the rest of the country by train in January 2024.
Chenab Bridge which is a part of Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla rail link project. It is being considered as one of the most luxurious train journeys in the future. The bridge will be commissioned soon after the successful trial run of the vehicle mounted on the track.
Railway Minister was accompanied by Ashutosh Gangal, General Manager, Northern Railway and other senior officials of USBRL project and Northern Railway during his official inspection tour of Chenab Bridge.
Apart from the trolley running on the Chenab bridge, Vaishnav told the media that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has paid special attention to the development of the country. Chenab bridge, all these tunnels will become the lifeline for Jammu and Kashmir. He said that the project will connect Srinagar district with the rest of the country and it is a very important strategic development.
Tourism and economic development will benefit
The completion of the Udhampur-Katra-Srinagar-Baramulla rail link project will not only boost tourism in the region, but also provide a reliable and safe mode of transport for people commuting to and from the Kashmir Valley. It will also open new avenues of economic development. He said that the project has been a top priority for the government and with the successful testing of the Chenab bridge, the completion of the project is now closer than ever. The Railway Minister also said that they are setting up a special training academy in Jammu. He said, wherever our engineers and technicians need training, they can come to this project and get trained here. Due to this, other parts of the country can also get benefit from this project.
