Srinagar, Apr 13: Security arrangements have been heightened across Reasi district and its adjoining areas in preparation for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s scheduled visit on April 19, during which he is expected to formally inaugurate the ambitious Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project — a landmark infrastructure initiative aimed at establishing all-weather rail connectivity between the Kashmir Valley and the rest of the country.
In anticipation of the high-profile event, top security and intelligence agencies are working in close coordination to establish a multi-layered security grid, leaving no room for lapses. The Prime Minister’s visit, being of national importance, has prompted an unprecedented security build-up in the region.
A senior police officer, speaking to Rising Kashmir, said that elaborate arrangements are being put in place, especially around the venue where the Prime Minister is expected to address a gathering. “We are deploying additional personnel, setting up access control points, and activating electronic surveillance along all possible approach routes,” the official said.
He added that the security grid includes drone surveillance, area sanitization drives, frisking operations, and coordination between district-level security agencies and central forces. “No chances are being taken, particularly considering the significance of the occasion,” he said.
The official further noted that anti-sabotage checks are being carried out in vulnerable zones, and special attention is being paid to railway installations, bridges, and tunnels that fall along the route of the USBRL line.
“Security of the vital infrastructure remains a top priority. Vehicular movement near the event location will be regulated, and traffic advisories are expected to be issued in the coming days. Intelligence units have also been instructed to stay alert for any suspicious activity in the region,” he said.
The USBRL project, which includes the world’s highest railway bridge over the Chenab River, is a symbol of modern engineering and national integration. With its formal inauguration by the Prime Minister, the project is expected to enhance economic opportunities, streamline logistics, and significantly reduce travel time between the Jammu region and the Kashmir Valley.
Dilip Kumar, Executive Director of Information and Publicity (ED/IP) at the Railway Board, said that the 272-km stretch, including a 119-km tunnel, is a key development for the region’s connectivity. “It has been the dream of every Indian to have a train running to Kashmir. For this, we have made long preparations, and now this USBRL section is ready.”
“There is a 119-km tunnel in this 272-km section. This entire area is very important for Kashmir’s religious, tourism, and connectivity needs. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the USBRL project on April 19,” he added.
On January 23, Indian Railways conducted the trial run of the first Vande Bharat train from the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra railway station to the Srinagar railway station.
The train will run through Anji Khad Bridge, India’s first cable-stayed railway bridge, and Chenab Bridge, which is the highest railway bridge in the world. This train has been designed for the cold climate conditions of the Kashmir valley.
