Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday inaugurated the iconic Chenab Bridge, the world’s highest railway arch bridge, waving the national flag as he declared the engineering marvel open to the public. The bridge, a key milestone in the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla rail project, spans the Chenab River in Jammu and Kashmir’s Reasi district.
The inauguration, coming just days after the deadly terror attack in Pahalgam, was widely interpreted as a deliberate and powerful message of national resolve. The Pahalgam attack was a terrorist ambush that took place on June 9, 2024, in the Pahalgam area of Anantnag district in Jammu and Kashmir. The assault claimed the lives of at least 10 civilians, including pilgrims, and left several others—among them security personnel—injured.
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PM Modi Flags Off Vande Bharat Express Trains
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday inaugurated two Vande Bharat Express trains from Katra Railway Station, marking a major step forward in enhancing railway connectivity in Jammu and Kashmir. Ahead of the flag-off, PM Modi interacted with schoolchildren onboard and engaged with railway staff, underscoring the significance of the moment.
The new Vande Bharat service is set to cut travel time between Katra and Srinagar from 6–7 hours by road to just around 3 hours, offering a faster, more comfortable, and dependable travel option for residents, tourists, and pilgrims alike.
The route features engineering marvels such as the Anji Khad Bridge, India’s first cable-stayed railway bridge, and the Chenab Bridge, the tallest railway bridge in the world.
Soon after its inauguration, the Vande Bharat Express crossed the iconic Chenab Bridge on its journey from Katra.