Dr Jitendra, Sinha to attend ceremony at Katra
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 29: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will flag off new category of superfast passenger trains and six new Vande Bharat trains including Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra-New Delhi Vande Bharat Express during his visit to Ayodhya tomorrow. He will also inaugurate newly constructed Maharishi Valmiki International Airport along with redeveloped Ayodhya Dham Railway Station during the visit.
The Prime Minister will virtually flag off Vande Bharat train between New Delhi-Katra while Union Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) Dr Jitendra Singh, who is Lok Sabha member from Udhampur-Doda seat and Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha will join the ceremony at Katra.
Significantly, this will be second Vande Bharat to run between Delhi and Katra. With this Katra has come at par with Varanasi where two Vande Bharat trains will be operating.
And, as per the official sources, Jammu and Kashmir will get third Vande Bharat Express in March-April next when Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla rail project will be completed. Third Vande Bharat is likely to run between Jammu and Srinagar.
Work on Katra-Banihal rail track is apace and there are reports that the Kashmir valley could be linked with rest of the country by train in March-April or May next year. A Vande Bharat Express is sure to run between Jammu and Srinagar while there is proposal to link the Valley with trains to all important stations to attract tourists, gradually.
Udhampur-Baramulla rail project which is of national importance will also be inaugurated by the Prime Minister when it is completed. The project will not only help people of the Valley in terms of connectivity but will also be very crucial from defence point of view as movement of troops to Kashmir will become quite easy, the officials said.
“The Prime Minister will also flag off six new Vande Bharat trains. These include Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra-New Delhi Vande Bharat Express; Amritsar-Delhi Vande Bharat Express; Coimbatore-Bangalore Cantt Vande Bharat Express; Mangalore-Madgaon Vande Bharat Express; Jalna-Mumbai Vande Bharat Express and Ayodhya-Anand Vihar Terminal Vande Bharat Express,’’ an official statement issued today said.
Later, Dr Jitendra Singh and LG Manoj Sinha will join the Vande Bharat train flag off ceremony at Katra. Dr Jitendra will also travel in the train from Katra to Kathua. Functions will be held at Udhampur, Manwal and Kathua to receive the train as it will have stations there.
“The programme at Ayodhya Dham Junction Railway Station will witness the Prime Minister flagging off a new category of superfast passenger trains in the country – the Amrit Bharat Express. The Amrit Bharat train is an LHB push pull train with non air-conditioned coaches. This train has locos at both ends for better acceleration. It provides improved facilities for rail passengers like beautiful and attractive designed seats, better luggage rack, mobile charging point with suitable mobile holder, LED lights, CCTV, public information system, among others.
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