Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Jammu and Kashmir visit to inaugurate train to Kashmir from Katra, Director General of Police (DGP) Nalin Prabhat on Monday chaired a high-level meeting here to review the security scenario in Jammu region.
DGP took a detailed review and directed the officers to ensure fool proof security.
Meanwhile, the Special Protection Group (SPG), tasked with the Prime Minister’s security, has taken over the control of the security at the venue in Katra, where the Prime Minister is scheduled to flag off the first train to Kashmir on April 19.
Prime Minister Narendra is set to flag off the first train between Katra in Jammu and Srinagar in Kashmir. He will also inaugurate the Chenab bridge.
PM Modi had described the Chenab bridge as an “unparalleled” example of engineering. Moreover, the flagging off the commercial operation of the first train between Kashmir and Jammu will mark the beginning of full rail connectivity from the Valley to the rest of the country. To start with, the national transporter will operate one Vande Bharat train between Katra and Srinagar, which will enable travelers to cover the stretch in just over three hours. Currently, it takes around 6 to 7 hours.
The Northern Railway has been conducting the trial run of trains between Kashmir and Jammu for more than two months. At present, train services in Kashmir are limited to the Sangaldan-Baramulla section, while long-distance trains terminate at Katra.
The bridge over the Chenab river is 35 metres taller than the Eiffel Tower.
Officials said around 29,000 tonnes of steel has been used in the construction of the bridge. They added that construction of the bridge was challenging because the area falls in earthquake-prone region and so its design and construction were done in such a way that even if an eight-magnitude earthquake occurs it will not affect the bridge—(KNO)
