Railways approves Udhampur halt following public demand; Chenab bridge, Kashmir rail link cited as major engineering milestones
Suliman Seith
Jammu, Aug 28 (BuzzBytes): Union Minister of State for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences Dr Jitendra Singh on Friday said the third Vande Bharat train between Jammu and Srinagar will be launched soon, terming it a major development for the people of Jammu and Kashmir, and announced that the Ministry of Railways has approved a halt at Udhampur following a demand raised by the public.
In a video message, Singh said the approval for the Udhampur halt was particularly significant as it was earlier believed a stop there would not be feasible, and thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Ministry of Railways and the Railway Minister for the development. Reflecting on the expansion of the railway network in Jammu and Kashmir, he said that when the Jammu railway station was established in 1972, it took nearly five decades for the network to advance further into the region, but the expansion gained momentum after Narendra Modi became Prime Minister, with connectivity extended to Kathua and subsequently to Udhampur and the Kashmir Valley.
Singh said railway connectivity to the Kashmir Valley was once considered difficult because of the mountainous terrain, but the project was completed despite several challenges, and highlighted the construction of the world’s highest railway bridge over the Chenab River in Reasi as a major engineering achievement. He said the railway journey has also emerged as a tourist attraction, with many visitors travelling by train from Jammu to Srinagar to experience the scenic beauty along the route, and added that the new Vande Bharat service and the Udhampur halt would further expand railway connectivity in Jammu and Kashmir—(BuzzBytes)
