Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday lauded the arrival of the first freight train to the Kashmir Valley, calling it a significant milestone in connecting the region to the national freight network.
In a post on X, PM Modi said, “Great day for commerce and connectivity in Jammu and Kashmir! It will enhance both progress and prosperity.”
Marking a historic moment in goods transportation for Kashmir, the first freight train arrived in J&K’s Anantnag town on Saturday. This also marks the operational debut of the Banihal–Sangaldan–Reasi–Katra section of the Udhampur–Srinagar–Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project.
“The first freight train reached the newly commissioned Anantnag Goods Shed in the Kashmir Valley from Punjab, marking a significant milestone in connecting the region to the national freight network,” said Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw in a post on X.
He added, “Transportation via the railway network will reduce costs for our citizens living in the Kashmir Valley.”
The USBRL project spans the districts of Udhampur, Reasi, Ramban, Srinagar, Anantnag, Pulwama, Budgam, and Baramulla in Jammu and Kashmir.
The development is expected to provide a major boost to the local economy by reducing transportation costs and eliminating the uncertainty of goods movement along the Srinagar-Jammu highway, which is often disrupted by shooting stones, mudslides, and landslides. The freight service will ensure year-round movement of goods into the Valley, as well as the transport of the region’s significant horticultural produce, including apples.
The construction of the USBRL is considered both an engineering marvel and a testament to human endurance, given the challenging and rugged mountain terrain it traverses.
Meanwhile, the Prime Minister will virtually flag off the Vande Bharat Express between Amritsar and Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra on August 10.
(with inputs from IANS)