PM Modi to Inaugurate Maiden Train Between Katra and Srinagar on April 19
A Major Stride Towards Complete Rail Connectivity in Kashmir
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is prepared to launch the first-ever train connecting Katra in Jammu and Srinagar in Kashmir on April 19. This occasion will also witness the unveiling of the Chenab bridge in Kashmir. The date carries historical importance as India had launched its first satellite, Aryabhata, on April 19, 1975.
The Chenab Bridge: An Engineering Triumph
Modi has previously lauded the Chenab bridge as an “unmatched” feat of engineering. Rising 35 meters taller than the Eiffel Tower, the bridge has utilized approximately 29,000 tonnes of steel in its construction. Despite being situated in an earthquake-prone zone, the bridge’s design guarantees its stability even during an earthquake of eight magnitudes.
Trial Runs and Train Operations
The Northern Railway has been conducting trial runs of trains between Kashmir and Jammu for over two months. Presently, train services in Kashmir are confined to the Sangaldan-Baramulla section, while long-distance trains halt at Katra.
- The launch of the first train between Kashmir and Jammu signifies the onset of complete rail connectivity from the Valley to the rest of the nation.
- To begin with, the railways will operate one Vande Bharat train between Katra and Srinagar, enabling passengers to traverse the distance in a little over three hours.
- The line and the train have been engineered to withstand extreme temperatures, ensuring connectivity remains uninterrupted even when the temperature in Kashmir plummets below zero degrees Celsius.
