Jammu, Jun 1: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to flag off the much awaited ìtrain to Kashmirî from Shri Mata Vaishno Devi (SMVD) Railway Station, Katra on June 6.
Earlier the Prime Minister was to inaugurate this service by flagging off Vande Bharat Express from Katra to Baramulla on April 19 this year.
However, his visit was deferred in the wake of forecast of inclement weather conditions for April 18 and 19.
As per sources, the final itinerary is yet to be confirmed however as per tentative schedule, the Prime Ministerís major engagements are likely to remain more or less the same as were chalked out for his April 19 visit.
ìBesides flagging off one Vande Bharat Express from SMVD Railway Station Katra to Baramulla and another virtually from Baramulla to Katra, the inauguration of worlds highest railway bridge over river Chenab and Indiaís first cable stayed bridge over Anji Khad and address to a public rally at Katra stadium are part of his tentative itinerary, which may see alteration or addition, once finalised,î sources point out.
He is likely to reach Chenab Bridge from Udhampur airport on June 6. Inspection visit to two major bridges of the prestigious Udhampur Srinagar Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project is to be followed by flagging off a train to Kashmir and vice versa. Railway workers may be part of the inauguration ceremony, as per sources.
The Prime Minister may travel from Chenab Bridge by train up to Katra. Union Minister for Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw and Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha will accompany the Prime Minister.
However, this time, PMs likely visit, maiden post Operation Sindoorí will serve twin purposes.
Besides inaugurating long-awaited train service to Katra and related engagements, he will also be able to reach out to people as well as defence personnel to boost their morale for unprecedented valour demonstrated during recent escalation between India and Pakistan.
Presently the Prime Minister is on an extensive outreach programme following Operation Sindoor, which he says, ìis paused and not over.î
As far as the 272-km USBRL project is concerned, initially the train will run from Katra to Baramulla; later it will start operations from Jammu Railway Station, which is presently undergoing major transformation.
The project has been completed at a cost of Rs 40,000 crore.
