Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to address a rally in Jammu and Kashmir's Udhampur district on February 20, according to Union Minister Jitendra Singh. The announcement came during Singh's visit to Udhampur, where he witnessed the stoppage of the Katra-Delhi Vande Bhart Express train at the Martyr Captain Tushar Mahajan Railway station.
The brief stoppage of the fast express train at Udhampur and Kathua railway stations aims to assist the local population in the area.
"We aim for the Prime Minister's visit to J-K before the election code of conduct kicks in. His schedule is confirmed for February 20, during which he will unveil several projects and address the public," stated Singh to reporters in Udhampur.
During his visit, PM Modi will inaugurate an All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) at Vijaypur in Samba, the highest railway bridge over Chenab in Reasi district, Devika project at Udhampur, IIM Jammu, and Shahpur-Kandi Dam project.
The Chenab rail bridge, spanning 1.3 km and situated 359 meters above the river bed—35 meters higher than the Eiffel Tower in Paris—is a critical link in the 111-km stretch from Katra to Banihal, part of the ongoing Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Railway Link (USBRL) project.
PM Modi is also expected to inaugurate the over 33-km Banihal-Samber section, ready for train operations. The project, aimed at connecting Kashmir with the rest of the country by train, is rescheduled for May to finish pending works.
Singh highlighted that Jammu and Kashmir, particularly Udhampur, has always been a priority for PM Modi, who began his 2014 election campaign after visiting the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine.
He expressed gratitude to the Railway minister for heeding the demand for the Vande Bharat train stoppage at Udhampur and Kathua.
"The railway ministry accepted our demand, and we are grateful. Udhampur, hosting the northern command headquarters, is poised to become an important junction after Kashmir's train connectivity with the rest of the country in the next two to three months," said Singh.
He noted that the railway station has been included in the Amrit Rail station category for development. Similarly, Kathua district's proximity to Himachal Pradesh and Punjab will see a boost in industry, trade, and youth empowerment, especially for students, with the new initiative (Vande Bharat stoppage).
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