Katra: Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off a new train from Delhi to Katra via Udhampur on Friday. The train will be going till the base town of Vaishno Devi shrine.
Read: In Jammu and Kashmir, Narendra Modi flags off train from Katra to Delhi via Udhampur
Modi is on his first visit to Jammu and Kashmir after taking charge as Prime Minister. Massive security arrangements have been put in place for his visit. However, separatists had called a strike in protest of Modi’s visit and massive security arrangements were put in place in capital Srinagar and other places.
Read: Strikes, tight security as Narendra Modi visits Kashmir
All shops, business establishments, schools and banks remained closed in the state and little traffic was seen on the roads..jpg)
Women walk past paramilitary soldiers as they stand guard in Srinagar, left and a paramilitary soldier stands guard near a barbed wire set up as road blockade during shutdown in Srinagar, right (Photo: AP)
In his inaugural speech, Modi promised that there would be no impediment in the way of development of the state and said suggested the name of the train as Shreeshakti Express. He said the train would not only ease the journey of pilgrims, but also help the region in development.
"This is not just a mode of transportation. Infrastructure is the mother of development. I want to win the hearts of the people of Jammu and Kashmir through development," said Modi.
Ahead of the rail budget, Modi hinted at an increased role of the private sector in development of railways.
"We want the railway stations to have better facilities than airports. This is our dream and it is not a difficult thing to do and this is economically viable too. I have discussed it in detail with my Railway friends. You will see a change in near future.
"In that, private parties would also be ready to invest because this is a good project economically and will benefit everyone. This would be a win-win situation project and we want to move ahead in this direction in the coming days," he said.
Modi said the railway stations in metros and important cities such as Jammu would be priority for the government with regard to development of railway stations.
He said the Railway Ministry has been given a detailed outline of the project.
Railways Minister Sadananda Gowda will present his maiden Rail Budget on July 8 in Parliament. The Government has already hiked the fares for passenger travel and freight transportation.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah was also present said crores of pilgrims would benefit from this new train. Katra was so far only accessible by road. The train connectivity to Katra is part of a Rs. 1,150-crore Kashmir rail link project, which will connect the region with rest of the country.
Underlining that economic development of Jammu and Kashmir is largely dependent on railways, Abdullah stressed the need for early completion of unconnected stretches of Jammu-Baramulla Railway track.
Omar said that economic linkage of Jammu and Kashmir with the rest of the country is dependent on railways and it will get a comprehensive boost by this initiative.
The Chief Minister also underscored the need for linking Poonch-Rajouri, Doda-Kishtwar in Jammu division and extension of railway tracks in Kashmir Valley to various places particularly Tangmarg, Pahalgam and other tourist resorts.
Omar said that rail services in Kashmir was a dream and referred the significant contribution made by former Prime Ministers - Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Manmohan Singh in realising "this cherished desire of the people."
He thanked the Prime Minister for inaugurating the railway track from Udhampur to Katra and expressed hope that the demand of the state for the extension of railway link to various areas would be accommodated for the larger economic and developmental interests of the state.
Omar also sought the Prime Minister's intervention in upgrading and developing the Jammu Railway Station besides the implementation of various tourist and beautification projects to make Jammu and Srinagar model cities of the country.
The last link between Katra and Banihal pass, is expected to be completed by 2018. The 25-km long Udhampur-Katra line, commissioned after prolonged delays, has been built at an estimated cost of Rs 1,132.75 crore.
The train will traverse through seven tunnels and over 30 small and large bridges. There will be a small station - Chakrakhwal - between Udhampur and Katra.
Trains will be able to reach Katra directly as the 53-km Jammu-Udhampur rail line is already operational. This would enable lakhs of pilgrims headed to the revered Vaishno Devi shrine to travel directly to the base camp at Katra.
Modi will further head to Srinagar, where he is scheduled to address Indian Army troops at the Badami Bagh Cantonment and later he will have lunch with Governor N N Vohra at the Raj Bhawan.
Modi will also visit Uri to inaugurate the second phase of a hydel project.
Watch: PM flags off train in Jammu and Kashmir
