{"id":39290,"date":"2025-03-27T05:49:18","date_gmt":"2025-03-27T05:49:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ppnewsline.in\/?p=39290"},"modified":"2025-03-27T05:49:18","modified_gmt":"2025-03-27T05:49:18","slug":"pm-modi-to-flag-off-first-train-to-kashmir-on-april-19","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ppnewsline.in\/?p=39290","title":{"rendered":"PM Modi to Flag Off First Train to Kashmir on April 19"},"content":{"rendered":"

The long-awaited moment of connecting Kashmir with the rest of the country by train will finally arrive on April 19<\/strong>, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi<\/strong> flags off the first train to the Valley from Katra<\/strong>, the base camp of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Ji shrine. The inauguration will take place in the presence of Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, Union MoS in PMO Dr. Jitendra Singh, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, and former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah,<\/strong> among other dignitaries.<\/p>\n

This marks the end of decades of anticipation for direct train connectivity to Kashmir. At present, train services operate only between Sangaldan and Baramulla<\/strong> and from various parts of the country up to Katra. With successful trial runs and all safety and security clearances in place, PM Modi has given his nod to flag off the first train to Kashmir.<\/p>\n

PM\u2019s Visit and Inauguration Schedule<\/strong><\/h3>\n

According to official sources, Prime Minister Modi<\/strong> will land at Udhampur Army Airport<\/strong> in the morning of April 19<\/strong> and then proceed to the world\u2019s highest railway bridge over the Chenab River in Reasi district<\/strong>. He will inspect the bridge, which is considered an engineering marvel<\/strong> globally. Senior railway officials will brief him about its construction and significance.<\/p>\n

Following this, the Prime Minister will reach Katra to flag off the historic train<\/strong>. After the inauguration, he will address a public rally in the holy town before returning to New Delhi via Udhampur Army Airport<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Train Route and Future Expansion<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Initially, the train will run between Katra and Baramulla<\/strong>, but once expansion work at Jammu Railway Station<\/strong> is completed, the service will operate from Jammu to Baramulla<\/strong>, likely starting July-August<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

For now, there will be no direct train from Delhi or other cities to Kashmir<\/strong>. Passengers will have to de-board at Katra and switch trains<\/strong> to reach the Valley. Later, this transition will take place at Jammu<\/strong> instead of Katra.<\/p>\n

Security Arrangements and Trials<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan<\/strong> recently reviewed security arrangements for the train launch. The Chairman of the Railway Board<\/strong> and the Director General of the Railway Protection Force (RPF)<\/strong> also assessed the situation at Katra.<\/p>\n

Several successful trial runs, including that of Vande Bharat<\/strong>, have already been conducted. Security concerns have been addressed, ensuring a safe and smooth journey for passengers.<\/p>\n

Project Timeline and Cost<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The 272-kilometer-long Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project<\/strong> has been under development for years, with various sections commissioned in phases:<\/p>\n

    \n
  • \n

    Qazigund-Baramulla (118 km)<\/strong> \u2013 October 2009<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  • \n

    Banihal-Qazigund (18 km)<\/strong> \u2013 June 2013<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  • \n

    Udhampur-Katra (25 km)<\/strong> \u2013 July 2014<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  • \n

    Banihal-Sangaldan (48.1 km)<\/strong> \u2013 February 2024<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    The remaining 17-kilometer stretch between Reasi and Katra<\/strong> was completed three months ago, allowing for final trials, including Vande Bharat<\/strong>. The entire project has cost around \u20b941,000 crore<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

    On January 4, 2025<\/strong>, a successful trial run<\/strong> of an electric train was conducted on the Katra-Banihal section<\/strong>, marking a significant milestone in the project.<\/p>\n

    Vande Bharat Express for Kashmir<\/strong><\/h3>\n

    Kashmir will receive a new specially designed Vande Bharat Express Train<\/strong>, connecting Katra and Srinagar<\/strong>. This will be the third<\/strong> such train in Jammu and Kashmir<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

    Manufactured by Integral Coach Factory (ICF), Chennai<\/strong>, the train is equipped with anti-freezing technology<\/strong>, allowing it to function smoothly in extreme cold conditions, as low as -20\u00b0C<\/strong>. It features an advanced heating system<\/strong> to ensure passenger comfort.<\/p>\n

    For safety and security<\/strong>, the train is equipped with CCTV cameras, Emergency Talk Back Units, and shatterproof windows<\/strong>. However, it does not<\/strong> have bulletproof glass.<\/p>\n

    With this new development, train connectivity to Kashmir is set to become a reality<\/strong>, boosting travel, tourism, and economic activities in the region<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    The long-awaited moment of connecting Kashmir with the rest of the country by train will finally arrive on April 19, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi flags off the first train to the Valley from Katra, the base camp of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Ji shrine. The inauguration will take place in the presence of Railways […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":39291,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[30,235,31],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-39290","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-jammu","category-jammu-and-kashmir","category-kashmir"],"yoast_head":"\nPM Modi to Flag Off First Train to Kashmir on April 19 - PP Newsline<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/ppnewsline.in\/?p=39290\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"PM Modi to Flag Off First Train to Kashmir on April 19 - PP Newsline\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The long-awaited moment of connecting Kashmir with the rest of the country by train will finally arrive on April 19, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi flags off the first train to the Valley from Katra, the base camp of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Ji shrine. The inauguration will take place in the presence of Railways […]\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/ppnewsline.in\/?p=39290\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"PP Newsline\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2025-03-27T05:49:18+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/ppnewsline.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/LADAKH-2-696x392-1.png\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"696\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"392\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Adarsh Pal Gupta\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Adarsh Pal Gupta\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"3 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/ppnewsline.in\/?p=39290\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/ppnewsline.in\/?p=39290\",\"name\":\"PM Modi to Flag Off First Train to Kashmir on April 19 - PP Newsline\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/ppnewsline.in\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/ppnewsline.in\/?p=39290#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/ppnewsline.in\/?p=39290#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/ppnewsline.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/LADAKH-2-696x392-1.png\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-03-27T05:49:18+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/ppnewsline.in\/#\/schema\/person\/59c9cc59a4aa1476e0c968013d27e345\"},\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/ppnewsline.in\/?p=39290#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/ppnewsline.in\/?p=39290\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/ppnewsline.in\/?p=39290#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/ppnewsline.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/LADAKH-2-696x392-1.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/ppnewsline.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/LADAKH-2-696x392-1.png\",\"width\":696,\"height\":392},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/ppnewsline.in\/?p=39290#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/ppnewsline.in\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"PM Modi to Flag Off First Train to Kashmir on April 19\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/ppnewsline.in\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/ppnewsline.in\/\",\"name\":\"PP Newsline\",\"description\":\"Daily Newspaper & Digital Media Platform\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/ppnewsline.in\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/ppnewsline.in\/#\/schema\/person\/59c9cc59a4aa1476e0c968013d27e345\",\"name\":\"Adarsh Pal Gupta\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/ppnewsline.in\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/867089e44c107b1bc8da25ef42916793c06006f1677cff8065e83705cf1b377d?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/867089e44c107b1bc8da25ef42916793c06006f1677cff8065e83705cf1b377d?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Adarsh Pal Gupta\"},\"sameAs\":[\"http:\/\/ppnewsline.in\"],\"url\":\"https:\/\/ppnewsline.in\/?author=1\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"PM Modi to Flag Off First Train to Kashmir on April 19 - PP Newsline","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/ppnewsline.in\/?p=39290","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"PM Modi to Flag Off First Train to Kashmir on April 19 - PP Newsline","og_description":"The long-awaited moment of connecting Kashmir with the rest of the country by train will finally arrive on April 19, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi flags off the first train to the Valley from Katra, the base camp of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Ji shrine. The inauguration will take place in the presence of Railways […]","og_url":"https:\/\/ppnewsline.in\/?p=39290","og_site_name":"PP Newsline","article_published_time":"2025-03-27T05:49:18+00:00","og_image":[{"width":696,"height":392,"url":"https:\/\/ppnewsline.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/LADAKH-2-696x392-1.png","type":"image\/png"}],"author":"Adarsh Pal Gupta","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Adarsh Pal Gupta","Est. reading time":"3 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/ppnewsline.in\/?p=39290","url":"https:\/\/ppnewsline.in\/?p=39290","name":"PM Modi to Flag Off First Train to Kashmir on April 19 - PP Newsline","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/ppnewsline.in\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/ppnewsline.in\/?p=39290#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/ppnewsline.in\/?p=39290#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/ppnewsline.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/LADAKH-2-696x392-1.png","datePublished":"2025-03-27T05:49:18+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/ppnewsline.in\/#\/schema\/person\/59c9cc59a4aa1476e0c968013d27e345"},"breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/ppnewsline.in\/?p=39290#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/ppnewsline.in\/?p=39290"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/ppnewsline.in\/?p=39290#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/ppnewsline.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/LADAKH-2-696x392-1.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/ppnewsline.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/LADAKH-2-696x392-1.png","width":696,"height":392},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/ppnewsline.in\/?p=39290#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/ppnewsline.in\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"PM Modi to Flag Off First Train to Kashmir on April 19"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/ppnewsline.in\/#website","url":"https:\/\/ppnewsline.in\/","name":"PP Newsline","description":"Daily Newspaper & Digital Media Platform","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/ppnewsline.in\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/ppnewsline.in\/#\/schema\/person\/59c9cc59a4aa1476e0c968013d27e345","name":"Adarsh Pal Gupta","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/ppnewsline.in\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/867089e44c107b1bc8da25ef42916793c06006f1677cff8065e83705cf1b377d?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/867089e44c107b1bc8da25ef42916793c06006f1677cff8065e83705cf1b377d?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Adarsh Pal Gupta"},"sameAs":["http:\/\/ppnewsline.in"],"url":"https:\/\/ppnewsline.in\/?author=1"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ppnewsline.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39290","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ppnewsline.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ppnewsline.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ppnewsline.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ppnewsline.in\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=39290"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/ppnewsline.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39290\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":39292,"href":"https:\/\/ppnewsline.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39290\/revisions\/39292"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ppnewsline.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/39291"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ppnewsline.in\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=39290"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ppnewsline.in\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=39290"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ppnewsline.in\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=39290"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}