Jammu: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday virtually inaugurated the new Jammu Railway Division, calling it a historic milestone in the development of Jammu and Kashmir’s connectivity and infrastructure.
Addressing the nation during the ceremony, PM Modi, according to the news agency KNO, congratulated the people of Jammu and Kashmir, saying, “Integration of J&K into the national railway network is a monumental step towards transforming Indian Railways into a global leader in efficiency, speed, and passenger experience.”
“The Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Railway Link (USBRL) project is a landmark achievement that demonstrates India’s engineering excellence.”
Highlighting the feats of modern engineering, he said, “India’s first cable-stayed rail bridge, the Anji Khad Bridge, and the iconic arch bridge over the Chenab River—the world’s highest railway bridge—are marvels that are making waves globally.”
The Prime Minister emphasized that the new Jammu Railway Division would not only benefit the people of Jammu and Kashmir but also extend its advantages to Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, and Ladakh.
PM Modi described the inauguration as a symbol of India’s collective progress under the vision of “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas,” filling colors in the dream of ‘Vikshit Bharat’ (developed India).
“To achieve Viksit Bharat, it is essential to develop Indian Railways,” he said, adding that the past decade has witnessed a transformational change in railway infrastructure modernization, enhanced connectivity, and improved facilities for passengers.
He stated that the government has laid more than 30,000 kilometers of new railway tracks in the last 10 years, nearing 100 percent electrification, compared to just 35 percent in 2014. Additionally, he noted that the country has eliminated all manual crossings on broad-gauge tracks.
“Today is a big day for new-age connectivity. It shows that the entire nation is moving forward together,” PM Modi remarked.
The Prime Minister stressed that new railway divisions, terminals, and modernized stations are creating unprecedented opportunities for trade, business, and employment.
“The development of railways is creating lakhs of job opportunities. In the last 10 years, lakhs of youth have been employed in the railways, and initiatives like Gati Shakti University will further enhance the workforce’s skillset,” he said.
Referring to the strides in high-speed train services, PM Modi noted that more than 50 Vande Bharat trains are now operational, connecting long distances in shorter times and setting a benchmark for modern Indian trains.
“The time is not far when bullet trains will traverse across the country, making railway journeys memorable,” he added.
The Prime Minister also lauded India’s expanding metro network, which has grown from just five cities in 2005 to 21 cities today, with over 1,000 kilometers of operational tracks.
Stressing the importance of indigenous development, PM Modi said, “Under the ‘Made in India’ initiative, railway stations are being modernized, and high-speed train corridors are being developed. This will ensure India leads from the front in connectivity and infrastructure.”
He reiterated the government’s commitment to making Indian Railways the backbone of a developed and self-reliant India, saying, “This is not just about connectivity but also about fulfilling aspirations and creating a better future for millions.” (KNO)
Rail infra expanded rapidly in past 10 years under PM Modi: Jitendra Singh
With Kashmir set to get connected with the rest of the country through rail link anytime soon, Union Minister Jitendra Singh on Monday said the railway infrastructure recorded rapid expansion in the past 10 years across the country under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Addressing a function organised at the Jammu Railway Station to mark the inauguration of the Jammu Railway Division by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Singh said Kashmir is getting connected by train very soon, fulfilling a long-lived dream.
The BJP MP from Udhampur also raised a question mark on the delay of over five decades in extending the railway line from Jammu to Kashmir Valley, as he urged people to celebrate the creation of the Jammu division for the bright future of their children.
“The first train will go from here to Kashmir (very soon), giving a new impetus to business, industry and tourism besides creating new job opportunities in the region. Modi-ji has done it for us, in a realistic way,” Singh said.
“Many elderly people will remember that exactly 53 years ago in 1972, a train arrived at the Jammu railway station. So the question that arises is what took so long to extend the service to Kashmir,” he said.
“In the past five decades, many governments came and went. Someday, this delay in extending service to Kashmir will be a subject of discussion. Were the priorities different or the earlier governments did not have the willpower?
“Were there people who did not want Kashmir to be connected to the rest of India by rail and be made a part of the national mainstream? Or was it the creator’s will that we had to wait for 50 years for Modi to become the prime minister,” Singh asked.
When the Modi-led government took over in 2014, the work on Kashmir’s rail project was almost stopped as the railway line and its alignments were entangled in the midst of controversies, the minister said.
But the government decided to go ahead with the work, leading to the construction of the world’s highest railway bridge over Chenab river in Reasi district along the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla railway line, which was completed recently and is presently undergoing trial runs between Katra and Srinagar, he said.
Stating that the BJP-led government ensured fast-track work on the rail project to ensure its completion within the shortest possible time, Singh said, “Railway infrastructure in the country expanded at a very rapid pace in the past 10 years after Modi took over as the prime minister in 2014.”
“Electrification of tracks has been completed in over 61,000 kilometres, while the length of metro rail, which was only 248 kilometres in 2014, has been expanded to 1,000 kilometres,” he said.
He also termed Jammu one of the best connected destinations in north India which will get a further boost with the completion of the Delhi-Amritsar-Katra expressway within six months, which will enable commuters to reach Delhi in just six hours.
Referring to the northeast, Singh said there is no part in the region where a double-track railway line has not been set up in the past decade, while the Arunachal Expressway inaugurated by Modi has improved connectivity and transport network.(PTI)
