Modi flags off train to Valley, inaugurates bridges; dedicates various projects from Katra
Pak enemy of poor people’s livelihood, prosperity
Won’t allow J&K’s development, progress to be hindered
People have made up mind to give befitting reply to terror
Youth now takes joy in bustling markets, malls, cinema halls
Sanjeev Pargal
KATRA, June 6: Prime Minister Narendra Modi said today that through April 22 terror attack at Pahalgam, Pakistan tried to target ‘Insaaniyat and Kashmiriyat’ which was aimed at inciting communal riots in the country and deprive people of Kashmir of their livelihood, who are dependent on tourism.
Addressing a massive rally at holy town of Katra, the base camp of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Ji shrine, after flagging off first train to Kashmir ending years long wait of the people to ride to the beautiful Valley in rail, Modi said it was exactly one month ago that India executed Operation Sindoor and delivered decisive blow to Pakistan-based terrorists hundreds of kilometers deep inside their territory.
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Modi earlier inaugurated Chenab bridge in Reasi district, the highest railway bridge in the world and Anji Khad bridge, country’s first cable-stayed rail bridge before reaching Katra where he flagged off Vande Bharat trains from Katra to Srinagar and Srinagar to Katra simultaneously followed by a massive rally at Katra stadium.
Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, Union Minister of State in the PMO Dr Jitendra Singh, Minister of State for Railways V Somanna, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah among others were present at the dais.
After inaugurating the Chenab bridge, the Prime Minister walked on it holding the tricolor high. He travelled in a rail engine coach to reach the spot.
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Modi said Rs 46,000 crore worth of projects, which he launched today from Katra, will accelerate development in Jammu and Kashmir, driving progress and prosperity.
“Pakistan targeted “Insaaniyat and Kashmiriyat” through the terror attack in Pahalgam. The assault was “orchestrated with the sinister intent of inciting communal riots in the country and robbing the impoverished, tourism-dependent Kashmiris of their livelihood,” Modi said.
He described Pakistan as enemy of poor people’s livelihood, saying the neighbouring country stands against humanity, social harmony and economic prosperity.
Condemning Pakistan’s repeated attempts to disrupt progress in Jammu and Kashmir, Modi declared that he will not allow this to happen and the UT will continue to march ahead with development and progress. He said the momentum of development in J&K will not be shaken by the Pahalgam attack.
He declared that nothing will hinder the region’s growth, declaring that any obstacle threatening the dreams of Jammu and Kashmir’s youth will have to first face “Modi himself”.
“Tourism not only generates jobs, but also fosters unity among people. Tourism in Jammu and Kashmir was breaking records during last 4-5 years. And Pakistan’s malicious intent directly hit local workers including pony rider operators, guest house owners, guides, porters and shopkeepers with a view to spoil their earnings,” Modi said, adding the deliberate attack on tourists was meant to sabotage the flourishing tourism industry in the UT.
The Prime Minister referring to Operation Sindoor said Pakistan’s military and terror networks never anticipated India’s bold move.
“Within minutes, terror infrastructure, hundreds of kilometers inside Pakistan, which they had built over decades were destroyed during Operation Sindoor. In frustration, Pakistan took out its anger on civilians in Poonch and other border districts where it bombed school going children, destroyed schools and hospitals, and attacked temples, mosques and gurdwaras with shelling,” he said but added that the countrymen stood with the victims of Pakistani shelling with full strength.
“Jammu and Kashmir endured terrorism, leading many to abandon their dreams and accept violence as their fate. But the Government has changed this reality, enabling the youth of Jammu and Kashmir to dream again and fulfill those dreams. Kashmir’s youth now take joy in seeing bustling markets, vibrant shopping malls, and flourishing cinema halls,” Modi said.
He praised the people of J&K for standing together against Pakistan’s conspiracy in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack saying their stand against the attack sent a strong message to people with terror mindset across the globe that they have made up their mind to give a befitting reply to terrorism.
“The decades-long terrorism burnt down schools in Kashmir and ruined the future of two generations. Not only schools, they burnt hospitals and even contesting an election became a challenge for the locals,” Modi said.
Stating that people tolerated terrorism and the devastation caused by it for decades, the Prime Minister said: “People had stopped dreaming and thought that terrorism was their future. It was imperative to pull J-K out of the menace of terrorism, which we have done successfully.”
The youth of Jammu and Kashmir have decided to give a befitting reply to terrorism, he declared.
He said the people in Jammu and Kashmir are looking at new dreams, and fulfilling them as well. The youth are happy with the construction of shopping malls, opening of cinema halls. They want J-K to become a prominent shooting destination for films. They also want the region to become a sporting hub, he added.
Modi also lauded the heavy turnout at the famous Kheer Bhawani Mela, a major festival of Kashmiri Pandits, and noted that the annual Amarnath Yatra is scheduled to commence on July 3. The Eid festivities are in the air, he said.
Modi said the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla rail line project is a symbol of a new, empowered Jammu and Kashmir and a resounding proclamation of India’s growing strength.
Referring to a recent statement by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, the Prime Minister noted that even as a student of seventh or eighth grade, Abdullah had been anticipating the completion of this project.
The Chenab and Anji bridges will serve as gateways to prosperity for Jammu and Kashmir, he said.
The inauguration of mega infrastructure projects marks a turning point in J-K’s development journey, he said, adding that the state-of-the-art Chenab bridge will improve connectivity between Jammu and Srinagar.
The saying ‘from Kashmir to Kanyakumari’ has become a reality in rail network as well, he said.
Modi also laid the foundation and inaugurated multiple development projects worth over Rs 46,000 crore for Katra.
The 272 km long USBRL project, constructed at a cost of around Rs 43,780 crore, includes 36 tunnels (spanning 119 km) and 943 bridges.
The project establishes all-weather, seamless rail connectivity between Kashmir and the rest of the country, aiming to transform regional mobility and drive socio-economic integration.
The ambitious railway project gained momentum during his tenure, Modi said, as he emphasized the challenges encountered, such as difficult terrains, extreme weather conditions, and falling rocks in the mountains, making the project immensely tough and demanding.
The Government has consistently chosen to face all challenges head-on and overcome them with determination, he said.
The numerous all-weather infrastructure projects underway in Jammu and Kashmir exemplify this commitment, he added.
The Prime Minister also highlighted that MBBS seats in Jammu and Kashmir have risen from 500 to 1,300, ensuring greater access to medical education, with Reasi district set to receive a new medical college that will enhance healthcare facilities in the region.
Earlier, Modi inaugurated the world’s highest railway bridge over the Chenab river, which was completed at a cost of Rs 1,486 crore in more than eight years.
After the Chenab bridge, Modi inaugurated India’s first cable-stayed rail bridge over the river Anji.
The architectural marvel Chenab rail bridge, situated at a height of 359 meters above the river and 35 meters higher than the iconic Eiffel Tower in Paris, is a 1,315-metre-long steel arch bridge engineered to withstand seismic and wind conditions.
The bridge forms a crucial link in the 111-km stretch from Katra to Banihal, and its construction was approved in 2002, but the work started only in 2017. Before the construction, 26 km of approach roads and a 400-metre-long tunnel were built to reach the site, Railway officials said.
The cable crane was commissioned on August 31, 2013, for the erection of a steel arch, trestle and piers. In 2017, an incremental launch over a 2.74-degree circular and a transition curve of 268 meters length was successfully done for the first time in the Indian Railways.
Joining of the 467-metre-long arch span was the most critical activity, the officials said; adding precision was to be maintained so that both ends of the arch meet with no error to ensure a perfect fit of the last segment of the arch.
The arch closure ceremony was conducted in April 2021, while the other major milestone was the ‘Golden Joint’ of the deck. The 785-metre-long deck superstructure was launched from both Kauri and Bakkal ends and was finally joined over the arch.
The Golden Joint ceremony was conducted on August 13, 2022.
The Anji bridge is the second-highest railway bridge after the iconic arch bridge over the Chenab at nearby Kauri.
In October 2016, the railway decided to build a cable-stayed bridge at Anji Khad after the plan to build an arch bridge similar to the Chenab bridge was abandoned due to the vulnerability of the structure, primarily due to concerns over the geological stability of the region.
This asymmetrical cable-stayed bridge crosses the deep gorges of the Anji river, a tributary of the Chenab river, and is located in the young fold mountains of the Himalayas, having extremely complex, fragile and daunting geological features in the form of faults, folds and thrusts and besides seismic proneness of the region.
According to railway officials, the total length of the bridge is 725 meters. It consists of an ancillary viaduct, an approach bridge and a central embankment.
It has been designed to handle heavy storms, strong winds and even explosions. The total deck width of the bridge is 15 meters.
The Anji bridge has a support of 96 cables varying from 82 meters to 295 meters, officials said.
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