PM Modi to visit Jammu and Kashmir on June 6 to open Chenab and Anji rail bridges

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Jammu and Kashmir on June 6 as per the Centre’s commitment to boost rail infrastructure and connectivity in the region, according to a government notice.

The prime minister will inaugurate and visit the Chenab bridge by 11 am. Afterwards, he will visit and inaugurate the Anji bridge. He will flag off Vande Bharat trains at around 12 noon. He will lay the foundation stone for multiple development projects worth over Rs 46,000 crore at Katra.

This will be the first visit of PM Narendra Modi after the Pahalgam terror attack.

Chenab and Anji rail bridges

The architectural marvel Chenab Rail Bridge, situated at 359 meters above the river, is the world’s highest railway arch bridge. It is a 1,315-metre-long steel arch bridge engineered to withstand seismic and wind conditions.

A key impact of the bridge will be in enhancing connectivity between Jammu and Srinagar. Vande Bharat trains will need just three hours to travel between Katra and Srinagar using the bridge, reducing existing travel time by 2-3 hours.

The Anji Bridge is India’s first cable-stayed rail bridge that will serve the nation in a challenging terrain.

Connectivity projects and other development initiatives

The prime minister will also dedicate the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project to the nation. The 272-km-long USBRL project, worth around Rs 43,780 crore and includes 36 tunnels (spanning 119 km) and 943 bridges. The project establishes all-weather, seamless rail connectivity between the Kashmir Valley and the rest of the country, aiming to transform regional mobility and drive socio-economic integration.

Two Vande Bharat trains from Vaishno Devi to Srinagar

The prime minister will also flag off two Vande Bharat Express trains from Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra to Srinagar and back. They will offer a swift, comfortable, and reliable travel option for residents, tourists, and pilgrims, among others.

In a major boost to last-mile connectivity, especially in border areas, the prime minister will lay the foundation stone and inaugurate various road projects. He will lay the foundation stone of the road widening project from Rafiabad to Kupwara on National Highway-701 and the construction of Shopian bypass road on NH-444 worth over Rs 1,952 crore. He will also inaugurate two flyover projects at Sangrama Junction on National Highway-1 in Srinagar and at Bemina Junction on National Highway-44. These projects will ease traffic congestion and enhance traffic flow for the commuters.

The prime minister will also lay the foundation stone of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence in Katra, worth over Rs 350 crore. It will be the first medical college in the Reasi district.