Katra, June 5 (KINS): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday marked a landmark moment in Jammu and Kashmir’s history by inaugurating the world’s highest railway bridges over the Chenab and Anji rivers and flagging off two Vande Bharat trains, officially integrating the Kashmir Valley into India’s national rail network.
Describing the day as a “celebration of unity, resilience, and progress,” PM Modi said the completion of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) represents a long-awaited dream now turned into reality.
“With the blessings of Mata Vaishno Devi, Kashmir has been fully connected to the Indian railway grid,” the Prime Minister said, addressing a massive gathering in Katra. “From Kashmir to Kanyakumari is no longer just a slogan—it is now a rail-connected truth.”
The USBRL, hailed as an engineering marvel, includes the iconic Chenab Bridge—taller than the Eiffel Tower—and the Anji Bridge, both constructed across difficult Himalayan terrain. “Walking on these bridges, I could feel the courage of our workers and engineers, the power of new India,” Modi remarked.
The Prime Minister described the ₹46,000 crore worth of newly launched projects in the region as accelerators of development. “This is not merely about infrastructure; it’s about rebuilding aspirations and transforming Jammu and Kashmir into a hub of opportunity,” he said.
Addressing the emotional resonance of the project, Modi said, “For decades, this dream lay unfulfilled. What the British couldn’t do, we achieved—because our government takes pride in challenging the impossible.”
He emphasized how the new railway network will reduce transportation costs, especially for Kashmiri fruit growers, helping their produce reach national and international markets more efficiently.
PM Modi also touched on the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, calling it an attack on “insaniyat and Kashmiriyat.” Paying tribute to Adil, a local man killed in the attack while working to support his family, Modi said the resilience shown by the people of Kashmir sent a strong message to terrorists. “Our neighbours want to disrupt peace and sabotage livelihoods. But Jammu and Kashmir’s development will not be stopped,” he declared.
“The Amarnath Yatra is about to begin. Eid is around the corner. Despite attempts to disrupt peace, the people of J&K stand united for progress. And I assure you—anyone who tries to block their dreams will have to face Modi first,” he said, drawing thunderous applause.
He also highlighted the broader transformation across the nation. “Over the past 11 years, more than 25 crore people have risen out of poverty. Our schemes have reached Dalits, tribals, backward classes—those who were long neglected by the politics of vote banks,” the PM said.
Modi concluded by reiterating his commitment to making Jammu and Kashmir a global tourist and cinematic destination. “Where people once accepted fear as destiny, now there is hope, ambition, and action. This is the new Jammu and Kashmir, and this journey has only just begun.”(KINS)
