JAMMU, February 13: Union Minister Jitendra Singh revealed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to address a rally in Udhampur district of Jammu and Kashmir on February 20.
The Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s office made this announcement during his visit to his parliamentary constituency, Udhampur, where he witnessed the stoppage of the Katra-Delhi Vande Bharat Express train at the Martyr Captain Tushar Mahajan Railway station.
The brief halt of the medium-distance superfast express train at Udhampur and Kathua railway stations was introduced to facilitate the local populace.
“We aim for the Prime Minister’s visit to J-K before the election code of conduct comes into effect. His program has been finalized for February 20, during which he will inaugurate various projects and address a public meeting,” stated the minister to reporters in Udhampur.
During PM Modi’s visit, he will inaugurate an All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) at Vijaypur in Samba, the highest railway bridge over Chenab in Reasi district, the Devika project at Udhampur, IIM Jammu, and the Shahpur-Kandi Dam project. The Chenab rail bridge, spanning 1.3 km and located 359 meters above the river bed, is a crucial link in the 111-km stretch from Katra to Banihal, part of the ongoing prestigious Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Railway Link (USBRL) project.
Modi is also expected to inaugurate the over 33-km Banihal-Samber section, which is ready for train operations. The project to connect Kashmir with the rest of the country via train has been rescheduled for May to complete pending works, according to officials.
Minister Singh highlighted Jammu and Kashmir’s significance, particularly Udhampur, on the Prime Minister’s priority list, noting that Modi began his 2014 election campaign after visiting the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine. He also expressed gratitude to the Railway minister for accepting the demand to halt the Vande Bharat train at Udhampur and Kathua.
“Udhampur, housing the headquarters of the northern command, is poised to emerge as a crucial juncture once Kashmir is connected to the rest of the country by train in the next two to three months,” Singh remarked, noting that the railway station has been included in the Amrit Rail station category for development.
Likewise, Singh emphasized that the initiative to halt the Vande Bharat train in Kathua district, bordering Himachal Pradesh and Punjab, would boost industry and trade and facilitate youth, particularly students.
