New Delhi: PM Narendra Modi is likely to inaugurate Katra-Srinagar Vande Bharat Seva this week, which will mark the first rail link for the Kashmir Valley from the rest of the country.The PM was about to greenlite the train on April 19, but could not do so due to bad weather. The opening ceremony was postponed due to the Pahalgam attack and operation vermilion, two developments have invested which was considered a major infrastructure project, which was with great importance.The Pahgam is coming against the backdrop of the terrorist attack, which was conceived to reversed tourism-based economic development, running the first train for Srinagar will be seen as a message of the Center for the border state and a message of disobedience to the state.Last month, the Railways successfully run its first “trial special train”, taking troops on the Katra-Kazigund section including Chenb Bridge, which is in the final stages of the stretch which connects Kashmir to the rest of India by rail.A central government official said, “Trains and security mechanisms are in place for operation.” Railways have made changes in Vande Bharat train which will work between Katra and Srinagar. It has features like cold weather, anti-sple layers and heating systems to ensure smooth operation in automatic doors.Katra-Srinagar Link is part of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla railway project that extends to 272 km and includes 119 km tunnels. It includes two prestigious engineering miracles – Chenb Bridge and Anji Khad Bridge. The entire corridor has been completed with an investment of Rs 42,930 crore.
