*Boon for Shri Amarnath yatris especially during NH blockade*
*Security, other arrangements get final touch*
Jammu, June 2: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to inaugurate train services to Kashmir from holy town of Katra, the base camp of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Ji shrine, in first week of June, most likely on June 6 after which Vande Bharat train will start running between Katra and Baramulla.
Officials confirmed to the Excelsior that preparations for launch of train services to Kashmir are being given final touches and the Prime Minister could flag off first train to the Valley on June 6.
The launch of train service was scheduled for April 19 but was postponed in view of bad weather conditions predicted for that day. Further delay was caused in view of April 22 Pahalgam terror attack followed by Operation Sindoor in which the Indian Armed Forces carried out strikes on terror infrastructure and military installations deep inside Pakistan and PoJK from May 7-10.
"Opening of the track can prove useful for upcoming annual pilgrimage of Shri Amarnath Ji starting July 3 and lasting till August 9 especially when there are reports of an early and heavy Monsoon this season which could lead to blockade of Jammu-Srinagar National Highway between vulnerable stretch of Ramban and Banihal," the officials said.
Opening of rail track can lead to movement of Shri Amarnath Ji passengers from Katra to Srinagar, they said, adding "if need arises special trains can be run to clear rush of the pilgrims especially in case of highway blockade".
Presently, as per the officials, only Vande Bharat train is expected to run between Katra and Baramulla.
The Prime Minister will flag off train from Katra to Baramulla and virtually from Baramulla to Katra. He will address a rally at Katra Stadium.
Modi is likely to visit highest rail bridge in the world over river Chenab and first Cable Stayed bridge on the railway track in Reasi district before flagging off train services from Katra.
As per the sources, initially the train will run from Katra to Baramulla. However, after completion of expansion work at Jammu Railway Station including increase in number of platforms, the train to Valley will start operations from Jammu, most likely in August-September.
There will be no direct train from Delhi or any other part to Kashmir at present. The passengers will have to de-board at Katra and change the train. Later, the same process will shift to Jammu.
Several trials of train from Katra to Baramulla including that of Vande Bharat have been successful. During Operation Sindoor, a train carrying Army personnel also operated on the track up to Srinagar.
Fresh security audit of the track was conducted after Pahalgam terror attack and all issues have been addressed with deployment of more police personnel and strengthening of infrastructure.
Out of the total 272-kilometere, Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project, 209- kilometre was commissioned in phases with the first phase of the 118-kilometre Qazigund-Baramulla section commissioned in October 2009, followed by 18-kilometre Banihal-Qazigund in June 2013, 25-kilometre Udhampur-Katra in July 2014 and 48.1-kilometre long Banihal-Sangaldan stretch in February, last year.
The work on the 46- kilometre Sangaldan-Reasi section was also completed in June last year, leaving a total of 17 kilometre stretch between Reasi and Katra which was also completed nearly three months back leading to start of different trials of trains including that of Vande Bharat.
The project involved a cost of Rs 41,000 crore.
On January 4, a successful trial run of an electric train was conducted on the Katra-Banihal section. The Railways have conducted series of trials over the past few months on various segments of the track, including the two major milestones of the Anji Khad and Chenab bridges.
Kashmir will get a new specially designed Vande Bharat Express Train. This new semi-high-speed train will connect Katra and Srinagar. The new semi-high-speed train connecting Katra and Srinagar will be the third such train in J&K.
