Highlights for Day 38 of Narendra Modi government Development Work
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- Last Updated: Thursday, 22 January 2015 21:00
Highlights for Day 38 of Narendra Modi government Development Work
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Narendra Modi flagged off Vaishno Devi Express, links Katra to rest of India
Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Railway line is considered to be an engineering marvel. The shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi is visited nearly 10 million devotees every year.
The rail-link passes through the Himalayas, and due to the difficult terrain, the construction had been divided into 4 phases. Jammu-Udhampur section, Anantnag to Rajwansher, Rajwansher to Baramulla and Quazigund to Anantnag were inaugurated by former PM Manmohan Singh.
The 53 km-long Jammu-Udhampur rail line is already operational and once the Udhampur-Katra line, which is a part of the Kashmir rail link project, is made operational, the trains will be able to come up to Katra directly. That would enable pilgrims headed to the Vaishno Devi shrine to travel directly to the base camp at Katra.
- Jammu-Udhampur section (53 Km) was inaugurated in April 2005 by Manmohan Singh
- Anantnag to Rajwansher (66 KM) was inaugurated in October 2008 by Manmohan Singh
- Rajwansher to Baramulla (35 KM) was inaugurated in February 2009 by Sonia Gandhi
- Quazigund to Anantnag (18 KM) was inaugurated in October 2009 by Manmohan Singh
- Today Udhampur-Katra (25 KM) has been completed and inaugurated by PM Narendra Modi.
After a prolonged wait, Katra has got its first rail link. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday inaugurated the Udhampur-Katra rail link by flagging of a train which he suggested be named as Shree Shakti Express.
The train to Katra near the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine is part of the 292 kilometre Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla railway line that would eventually connect Kashmir with the rest of the country.
The 25 km stretch from Udhapmur to Katra has cost Rs 1100 crore and has taken nearly 12 years to be made. The train will pass through 10 tunnels covering a distance of 10.9 km. All tunnels are illuminated and the longer tunnels have been provided state of art ventilation and systems for safety and rescue. The tunnel number 23 is the longest on the section having a length of 3.120 km. It passes through 36 bridges with the tallest bridge being 85 meters high.
The rail link crosses number of rivers, nallahs, canals, channels, khads and watercourses in addition to number of roads, cart paths and footpaths. The rail route over river Jhajjar has the highest pier height of 85 metres and the longest single span of steel girder bridge of 154 metres.
MeanwhilePrime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday hinted at private investment in the Indian Railways while inaugurating the Udhampur-Katra rail link. Speaking on the occasion, Modi said that he has held meetings with Railway officials to enable private entities to invest.
"I have held a detailed meeting with Railway officials; soon you will find the change. Even private players will be willing to invest. I assure people of India that we will make our railway stations modern with proper facilities," Modi said.
Soon after flagging off the train that links Katra to the rest of India, Modi suggested that the train be named 'Shreeshakti Express'. "Today is an auspicious day. The Amarnath Yatra is on, it is the Ramzaan month and then this train is being started at Vaisno Devi. This is a facility not only for the people of Jammu and Kashmir but also for the people of India, who want to visit the state," Modi said.
Speaking about giving a boost to rail links to Jammu and Kashmir, Modi said, "The start made by Atal ji of connecting Jammu and Kashmir through Railways, we have to take this ahead. We will in fact make Jammu's development more qualitative. Katra will develop very fast in the coming times."
"I have come here to Mata Vaishno Devi. I remember I began election campaign from here and today we begin our development journey from here," Modi added.
Concluding his speech, Modi said, "It is every Indian's dream that Jammu and Kashmir be happy and there be prosperity. We have to work for this, be it in power or not in power. The journey begun by Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee will be taken ahead by us. Our aim is to win hearts of the people of Jammu and Kashmir through development."
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah was also present at the event. "The realization of this rail line will boost tourism in the region. We should aim to increase the reach of this line to other parts of Jammu. I assure the people of Katra that this rail will prove to be beneficial for them," Omar said.
Tight Security In Kashmir as Hurriyat calls for bandh ahead of PM Modi's visit to Kashmir today
Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Jammu and Kashmir on Friday on his first visit to the state since assuming office. But even before he gets there, there's already a controversy brewing. The Separatist leaders has called for a bandh while the Grand Mufti has opposed the NDA government's plan for Kashmiri pandits' rehabilitation.
On his maiden visit to Jammu and Kashmir, Modi will address both development and security issues hassling the state. He will head a special security review meeting with senior army, paramilitary, police and civil officials at the headquarters of Army's 15 Corps in Srinagar. The Prime Minister is expected to tell them to go hard against terror modules and their financiers.
"He will take a brief on the security situation. Especially on the border, infiltration and secondly, he would focus on hawala transactions happening in Jammu and Kashmir," said Kashmir BJP spokesperson Khalid Jehangir.
The Prime Minister will also flag off the train from Udhampur to Katra, the base camp for Vaishno Devi shrine and a hydro-power project in Uri. "The Prime Minister would get informed about the road projects, power projects. He is aware that Jammu and Kashmir is starved of power and will ensure the state gets 24/7 electricity because that has been a long pending demand," Jehangir said.
The return of Kashmiri pandits to their homes, strengthening cross-LoC trade and restoration of Dal Lake figures high on Modi's agenda. A 100-man strong Special Protection Group and 20 odd additional companies of central forces have arrived in Srinagar to secure the venues. The valley-based separatists have given a strike call against Modi.
Progress of J&K depends on railways, says Omar Abdullah
Addressing the gathering at the inauguration of the Katra rail line project by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Chief Minister also underscored the need for linking Poonch-Rajouri, Doda-Kishtwar in Jammu division and extension of railway tracks in Kashmir Valley to various places particularly Tangmarg, Pahalgam and other tourist resorts.
Underlining that economic development of Jammu and Kashmir is largely dependent on railways; Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday stressed the need for early completion of unconnected stretches of Jammu-Baramulla Railway track.
Omar said that economic linkage of Jammu and Kashmir with the rest of the country is dependent on railways and it will get a comprehensive boost by this initiative.
Omar said that rail services in Kashmir was a dream and referred the important contribution made by former Prime Ministers - Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Manmohan Singh in realizing "this cherished desire of the people."
He thanked the Prime Minister for inaugurating the railway track from Udhampur to Katra and expressed hope that the demand of the state for the extension of railway link to various areas would be accommodated for the larger economic and developmental interests of the state.
Omar also sought the Prime Minister's intervention in upgrading and developing the Jammu Railway Station besides the implementation of various tourist and beautification projects to make Jammu and Srinagar model cities of the country.
The train connectivity to Katra, the base camp for pilgrims headed to Mata Vaishno Devi shrine nestled in the Trikuta hills, is part of the ambitious Kashmir rail link project that will connect the Valley with the rest of the country.
The last link between Katra and Banihal pass, is expected to be completed by 2018. The 25-km long Udhampur-Katra line, commissioned after prolonged delays, has been built at an estimated cost of Rs 1,132.75 crore.
Trains will be able to reach Katra directly as the 53-km Jammu-Udhampur rail line is already operational. This would enable lakhs of pilgrims headed to the revered Vaishno Devi shrine to travel directly to the base camp at Katra
--Written by Aadil Mir--