pm-to-flag-off-first-train-from-katra-to-kashmir-on-6-june

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to flag off train services to Kashmir from the holy town of Katra, the base camp of the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine, in the first week of June, after the much-awaited Vande Bharat Express starts running between Katra and Baramulla. Officials confirmed that the preparations for the inauguration of train services to Kashmir are being given final touches, and PM Modi might flag off the first train to the valley on 6 June.  

 

The launch of the first train services to Kashmir was scheduled for 19 April, but was postponed several times due to bad weather or because of the busy schedule of the prime minister. Further delay was caused due to the deadly Pahalgam terror attack and subsequent escalation between India and Pakistan; the tensions between the two nations remained high for more than two weeks. 

 

Also Read: PM Modi to inaugurate Kashmir's first train

 

“Opening of the track can prove useful for the upcoming annual pilgrimage of Amarnath starting July 3 and lasting till August 9. Especially when there are forecasts of early monsoons this season,” officials said. Opening of rail track can lead to movement of Amarnath Yatra passengers from Katra to Srinagar, they said, adding “if need arises, special trains can be run to clear the rush of the pilgrims, especially in case of highway blockade." 

 

As per the plan, the Vande Bharat train is expected to run between Baramulla in north Kashmir to Katra in Jammu. The prime minister will flag off the train from Katra to Baramulla and virtually from Baramulla to Katra. He will further address a rally at Katra Stadium.

 

There will be no direct train from Delhi or any other part to Kashmir at present. The passengers will have to disembark at Katra and change trains. Later, the same process will shift to Jammu. Several trials of the train from Katra to Baramulla, including that of Vande Bharat, have been successful. During Operation Sindoor, a train carrying Army personnel also operated on the track up to Srinagar. 

 

Out of the total 272-kilometre Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project, 209 kilometres were commissioned in phases, with the first phase of the 118-kilometre Qazigund-Baramulla section commissioned in October 2009, followed by the 18-kilometre Banihal-Qazigund in June 2013, the 25-kilometre Udhampur-Katra in July 2014 and the 48.1-kilometre-long Banihal-Sangaldan stretch in February last year. The project involved a cost of ₹41,000 crore.