Jammu, June 5 (UNI) Ahead of inaugurating the world’s highest railway arch bridge, Chenab Bridge, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said that the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project will boost spiritual tourism and create livelihood opportunities.

“Tomorrow, 6th June, is indeed a special day for my sisters and brothers of Jammu and Kashmir. Key infrastructure projects worth Rs. 46,000 crores are being inaugurated, which will have a very positive impact on people’s lives,” PM Modi said in a post on X.

He said, “The Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project ensures all-weather connectivity and the Vande Bharat trains from Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra to Srinagar will boost spiritual tourism and create livelihood opportunities.”

In addition to being an extraordinary feat of architecture, the Prime Minister said that the Chenab Rail Bridge will improve connectivity between Jammu and Srinagar, adding, “The Anji Bridge stands tall as India’s first cable-stayed rail bridge in a terrain that is challenging.”

Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has also reached Katra to review the arrangements and chair a meeting with the railway officials.

Meanwhile, an official here said that the Prime Minister will inaugurate the Chenab bridge and visit the bridge deck at around 11 AM, and thereafter, he will visit and inaugurate the Anji bridge.

The architectural marvel Chenab Rail Bridge, situated at a height of 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.

“He will flag off Vande Bharat Trains at around noon and later lay the foundation stone, inaugurate, and dedicate to the nation multiple development projects worth over Rs 46,000 crore at Katra,” he said.

Through the Vande Bharat train moving on the bridge, it will take just about 3 hours to travel between Katra and Srinagar, reducing existing travel time by 2-3 hours

The 272 km long USBRL project, constructed worth around Rs 43,780 crore, 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.

The Prime Minister will also address a rally at the Sports Stadium, Katra.

He said that Prime Minister Modi 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, and 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 Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence in Katra worth over Rs 350 crore.

It will be the first medical college in Reasi district contributing substantially to the healthcare infrastructure in the region.

Earlier in the day, Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh and Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah also reviewed the final arrangements ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Katra.

“Last minute touches at the site of the inauguration of the world’s highest railway bridge, the Chenab Bridge, by PM @narendramodi tomorrow,” Dr Singh posted on X.

He further posted, “#Katra Railway Station all decked up for flagging off #VandeBharat to #Kashmir by PM Modi.”

Abdullah in a post on X said, “visited the tallest railway bridge in the world, The Chenab Bridge, to review arrangements for the visit of the PM @narendramodi ji tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow is a landmark day for J&K when, finally, the valley will be connected to the rest of the country by a railway link to be inaugurated at the hands of the Honourable Prime Minister,” the Chief Minister posted.

Meanwhile, a multi-tier security structure has been put in place for the Prime Minister’s visit.

This will be the first visit of PM Modi to the Union Territory post Operation Sindoor launched by the Indian Armed Forces in retaliation for the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that left 26 persons, mostly tourists, dead.

“High alert is already sounded across Jammu and Kashmir given the Prime Minister’s visit,” said an official, adding, “heavy deployment of troops is made in and around the Katra and also at the venues where the Prime Minister is scheduled to visit.

“Hi-tech security gadgets being used for surveillance while Special Forces are also deployed,” they added.

UNI VBH BD