KATRA
SRINAGAR
“In the next ten years Katra will become the fulcrum of economic development in Jammu & Kashmir,” said Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday after he flagged off the inaugural train from Katra, the base camp for Vaishno Devi shrine.
The Prime Minister flagged off the Diesel Multiple Unit (DMU), which had school children aboard, at around 9.55 am from Katra Railway station to Udhampur.
Suggesting the name Shreeshakti Express for the train, Modi said, “It is a gift not just for people of J&K but for the whole of India.”
“This rail connectivity will provide speed to J&K and the power project will provide energy to the state,” PM said referring to the two inaugurations.
Katra-Udhampur rail line is around 25 kms long and consists of the 9.4-kms-long Udhampur-Chak Rakhwal and 15.5-kms-long Chak Rakhwal-Mata Vaishno Devi Katra sections. The approximate cost of this section is Rs 1,132 crore. The bridge on River Jhajjar is the longest steel bridge in India with a height of 85 metres. There are eight tunnels and 29 minor bridges on Udhampur-Katra track.
Earlier, the prime minister’s special aircraft landed in the technical area of Jammu airport.
He was received by Governor NN Vohra, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, state Minister for Higher Education Muhammad Akbar Lone, state Chief Secretary Muhammad Iqbal Khandey, state police chief K. Rajendra Kumar and other senior officials.
