Next date after US Vice President’s visit to India
*Inauguration likely by end of April or May start
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Apr 15: Much awaited inauguration of train service to Kashmir from Katra, the base camp of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Ji shrine, which was scheduled to be done by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on April 19, has been deferred for few days in view of inclement weather conditions with heavy rainfall predicted by Meteorological Department on April 18 and 19 in Jammu and Kashmir.
The visit will be rescheduled after the tour of United States Vice President JD Vance and National Security Advisor Michael Waltz to India beginning April 21 and expected to last four days, official sources told the Excelsior.
When contacted, Union Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) Dr Jitendra Singh told the Excelsior that the call to defer inauguration of train to Kashmir by Narendra Modi was taken in view of unfavorable weather conditions predicted for Jammu and Kashmir on April 18 and 19.
Click here to watch video
“Next date for inauguration of the train is being worked out,’’ he said.
As per sources, Meteorological Department has predicted heavy rains in Jammu and Kashmir on April 18 and 19 which would have made it difficult for helicopter to fly from Udhampur to Chenab rail bridge, the highest railway bridge in the world, where the PM had to visit and inaugurate it.
Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on WhatsApp
After landing at Udhampur defence airport, Modi had to fly to highest rail bridge and then travel from train up to Katra. He was scheduled to inaugurate Chenab rail bridge and India’s first Cable Stayed Bridge over Anji Khad on way to Katra.
The Prime Minister was scheduled to flag off Vande Bharat Express from Katra to Baramulla from Katra Railway Station and from Baramulla to Katra virtually. He had to address a massive rally at Katra Stadium before flying back to New Delhi.
As per the sources, the visit is now expected to be rescheduled after the tour of United States Vice President JD Vance and NSA Michael Waltz to India beginning April 21 and lasting four days.
The next date for inauguration of train service to Kashmir by the Prime Minister is expected to be either by the end of April or start of May. As all formalities for inauguration of train services to the Valley have been completed, the train will start within the next few days. Tour programme of Modi for inauguration of train will remain unchanged, the sources said.
Meanwhile, a special Vande Bharat train’s trial run was successfully conducted today on Katra-Sangaldan section of the 272-km Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Line (USBRL) which connects Kashmir with the rest of the country.
The Railways has conducted eight trials over the past three months on various segments of the Katra-Kashmir track, including major milestones such as India’s first cable-stayed rail bridge, the Anji Khad Bridge and the iconic arch bridge over the Chenab at Kauri — the world’s highest railway bridge.
The Railway officials said stretching 1,315 meters across the Chenab River near the Salal Dam, the bridge features a main arch span of 467 meters and can withstand wind speeds of up to 266 kmph.
The bridge surpasses the Eiffel Tower in height and is nearly five times taller than the Qutub Minar from the riverbed to the rail level.
Out of the total 272-km USBRL project, 209 km was commissioned in phases, with the first phase of the 118-km Qazigund-Baramulla section commissioned in October 2009, followed by 18 km Banihal-Qazigund in June 2013, 25 km Udhampur-Katra in July 2014 and the 48.1-km-long Banihal-Sangaldan stretch in February last year.
The work on the 46-km Sangaldan-Reasi section was also completed in June last year, leaving a 17-km stretch between Reasi and Katra, which was finally completed in December 2024.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
