PM Modi to inaugurate AIIMS, address rally in Jammu on February 20

Jammu, February 13

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate a slew of projects and address a rally during his visit to Jammu and Kashmir on February 20, Union minister Jitendra Singh said on Tuesday.

Singh was in his parliamentary constituency Udhampur to oversee the stoppage of the Katra-Delhi Vande Bhart Express train at Udhampur and Kathua railway stations.

Modi will address a public rally in Jammu, the minister of state in the Prime Minister’s office said. “We wanted the prime minister to visit J-K before the start of the election code of conduct. His programme has been finalised for February 20 during which he will launch various projects and also address a public meeting,” Singh told reporters in Udhampur.

The minister flagged off the maiden stoppage of the train from the Martyr Captain Tushar Mahajan railway station early this morning and later travelled on it to reach Kathua railway station, where the train made its first stoppage.

The two-minute stoppage of the medium-distance superfast express train at Udhampur and Kathua railway stations was introduced to facilitate the people in the two districts. Both the districts fall in the Udhampur parliamentary constituency.

During his visit, the prime minister will inaugurate an All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) at Vijaypur in Samba, the highest railway bridge over Chenab in Reasi district, Devika project at Udhampur, IIM Jammu and Shahpur-Kandi Dam project.

The 1.3-km Chenab rail bridge located 359 metres above the river bed — 35 metres higher than the iconic Eiffel Tower in Paris — forms a crucial link in the 111-km stretch from Katra to Banihal, which is part of the ongoing prestigious Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Railway Link (USBRL) project.

Modi is also likely to inaugurate over 33-km Banihal-Samber section which is ready for train operations, officials said, adding the dream project to connect Kashmir with rest of the country through train is rescheduled for May to complete the pending works.

The minister said Jammu and Kashmir, especially Udhampur, has always remained on the priority list of the prime minister who started his 2014 election campaign after ‘darshan’ at the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine.

He also thanked the railway minister for accepting the demand of the people for stoppage of Vande Bharat train at Udhampur and Kathua, terming it as a “historic decision” of the government.

“The railway ministry accepted our demand and we are thankful to them. Udhampur, which houses the headquarters of the northern command, is going to emerge as an important place after Kashmir is connected with the rest of the country by train in the next two to three months,” Singh said.

He said the railway station has been included in the Amrit Rail station category for its development.

Likewise, Kathua district borders Himachal Pradesh and Punjab and the new initiative (stoppage of Vande Bharat) will boost industry and trade besides facilitating the youth, especially students, the minister said. — PTI

To also unveil Chenab rail bridge

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) at Vijaypur in Samba, the highest railway bridge over Chenab in Reasi district, Devika project at Udhampur, IIM Jammu and Shahpur-Kandi Dam project
• The 1.3-km Chenab rail bridge is located 359 metres above the riverbed—35 metres higher than the Eiffel Tower in Paris
• Chenab rail bridge forms a crucial link in the 111-km stretch from Katra to Banihal, which is part of the ongoing prestigious Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Railway Link (USBRL) project
• PM is also likely to inaugurate over 33-km Banihal-Samber section, which is ready for train operations

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