Srinagar, Jan 05: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate and lay the foundation stone for several railway projects across the country, including the new Jammu railway division, via video conferencing. A spokesperson from Northern Railways informed Rising Kashmir that all preparations for the mega event have been completed. Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, Union Minister of State in the PMO Dr. Jitendra Singh, Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, and other dignitaries will attend the ceremony at the Jammu Railway Station.
“Prime Minister Modi will inaugurate the projects virtually on January 6 at 12:30 PM,” the spokesperson said.
He added that the creation of the new division will help streamline operations and foster regional growth. “This new Division marks the beginning of a new era in rail operations, ensuring more efficient management and boosting development in the region,” he continued.
The Jammu Railway Division, covering 742.1 km, will include the Pathankot-Jammu-Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla, Bhogpur Sirwal-Pathankot, Batala-Pathankot, and Pathankot-Joginder Nagar sections.
The spokesman highlighted that the division will benefit Jammu and Kashmir and the surrounding regions, addressing a long-pending aspiration of the people and enhancing connectivity with other parts of India. “It will create employment opportunities, promote infrastructure development, boost tourism, and contribute to the overall socio-economic development of the region,” he added.
In addition, Northern Railways has released the train schedules for the Katra-Srinagar route. The Vande Bharat Express will depart from Katra at 8:10 AM, arriving in Srinagar at 11:20 AM. Two daily Mail Express services will run from Katra to Srinagar at 9:50 AM and 3:00 PM, arriving in Srinagar at 1:10 PM and 6:20 PM, respectively.
For the return journey, the Mail Express will depart Srinagar at 8:55 am, reaching Katra at 12:05 pm. The Vande Bharat Express will leave Srinagar at 12:45 pm, arriving in Katra at 3:55 pm, while another Mail Express will depart Srinagar at 3:10 pm, reaching Katra by 6:30 pm.
Additionally, PM Modi will inaugurate the Charlapalli New Terminal Station in Telangana and lay the foundation stone for the Rayagada Railway Division Building of the East Coast Railway. The environmentally friendly terminal, equipped with enhanced passenger amenities, will ease congestion at existing coaching terminals in Secunderabad, Hyderabad, and Kacheguda.
The foundation stone for the Rayagada Railway Division Building will improve connectivity in Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, and surrounding areas, contributing to the socio-economic development of the region.
