Reasi: On April 19, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will officially open the last segment of the 272-kilometre Katra-Sangaldan segment of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL).

The famous Chenab Railway Bridge, the tallest railway arch bridge in the world, is part of the length, allowing direct train service between New Delhi and Kashmir via Katra.

“This bridge is in our vicinity,” a Bakkal village resident who lives close to the bridge stated. PM Modi will officially open this bridge on April 19. Everyone in the community is ecstatic, even us. Many job possibilities were created during the bridge’s construction, and more will be created once it is officially opened.

Executive Director of Information & Publicity (ED/IP) Dilip Kumar of the Railway Board emphasised the importance of the 272-kilometre USBRL (Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link) project, which includes a 119-kilometre tunnel, on April 10.

The initiative is anticipated to increase connectivity, tourism, and religious importance for the Kashmir area, Kumar told the media report.

“Having a train that travels to Kashmir has always been a dream of every Indian. After much preparation, this USBRL portion is finally ready for use. This 272-kilometre segment includes a 119-kilometre tunnel. From the perspectives of Kashmir’s religion, tourism, and connectivity, the whole region is crucial,” Kumar said.

He said that two Vande Bharat Express trains—one from Srinagar and the other from Katra to Srinagar—will start service on the day of its inauguration.

“We want to operate two Vande Bharat Express trains on the day the project starts. According to the Railway Board Executive Director, one Vande Bharat Express train would depart from Srinagar while the other will go from Katra to Srinagar.

The inaugural Vande Bharat train was trial-run by Indian Railways on January 23 from the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra (SVDK) railway station to the Srinagar railway station. The train will cross the world’s tallest railway bridge, Chenab Bridge, and India’s first cable-stayed railway bridge, Anji Khad Bridge. The Kashmir valley’s frigid temperature was taken into consideration while designing this train.