Modi launches major railways projects in Telangana, J&K and Odisha

Srinagar: Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, on Monday, after virtually inaugurating the newly carved out Jammu Railway Division, said that this “historic milestone” will create steps to take Jammu and Kashmir’s journey of developmental infrastructure and connectivity to higher levels. “The 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,” he said, adding, “The Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Railway Link project is a landmark achievement that demonstrates India's engineering excellence.” The 742.1-kilometre long JRD comprises of the Pathankot-Jammu-Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla, Bhogpur-Sirwal-Pathankot, Batala-Pathankot and Pathankot-Joginder Nagar routes. The Prime Minister 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.” He said that the government has laid more than 30,000 kilometers of new railway tracks in the last ten years, nearing 100 percent electrification, compared to just 35 percent existing in 2014 and that all manual crossings on broad-gauge tracks have been removed during this period. While referring to the recent inauguration of Namo Bharat train in Delhi-NCR along with the launch of Delhi Metro projects on Sunday, the Prime Minister asserted, “Today’s event is a further testimony to the fact that the entire nation is moving forward together, step by step, as projects launched in J&K, Odisha and Telangana mark a major leap in modern connectivity for these the north, east and south regions of the country”. The Prime Minister said, “This is a step forward in creating sustainable infrastructure as this new terminal will ease the pressure on existing stations in Secunderabad, Hyderabad, and Kachiguda, making travel more convenient for the people.” He said Odisha is blessed with abundant natural resources and a large coastline, and holds significant potential for international trade.