Katra (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], April 15 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi will flag off the first Vande Bharat Express to Kashmir from Katra on April 19.

Ahead of PM Modi's visit to Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday, BJP leaders and workers inspected the Katra Railway Station.

Speaking to ANI, Jammu and Kashmir BJP President Sat Sharma expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Modi for ensuring the timely completion of the much-anticipated project.

Sharma said, 'We are thankful to PM Modi for completing this important project within the committed timeframe. This will significantly improve the journey for pilgrims coming for Mata Vaishno Devi darshan while also opening greater access to the mesmerising beauty of Kashmir.'

'Prime Minister Narendra Modi will reach Katra on 19 April. He will flag off the train. Crores of people come to Katra to visit Mata Vaishno Devi. Now they will also go to Srinagar by this train. Jammu and Kashmir will touch the heights of development. People will get to know the culture of Jammu and Kashmir...' he added.

Earlier today, trial runs of the Vande Bharat train on the Katra- Sangaldan link were conducted.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the final section of the Katra-Sangaldan stretch of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL), a 272-km project, on April 19.

The stretch includes the iconic Chenab Railway Bridge, the world's highest railway arch bridge, enabling direct rail connectivity between New Delhi and Kashmir via Katra.

A resident of Bakkal village near the bridge said, 'This bridge is in our vicinity. On April 19, PM Modi will inaugurate this bridge. We are so happy; everyone in the village is so happy. The construction of this bridge generated a lot of employment opportunities, and even after the inauguration, we will get employment opportunities.'

On April 10, Dilip Kumar, the Railway Board's Executive Director of Information & Publicity (ED/IP), highlighted the significance of the 272-kilometre USBRL (Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link) project, which includes a 119-kilometre tunnel.

Speaking to ANI, Kumar asserted that the project is expected to boost connectivity, tourism, and religious significance for the Kashmir region.

'It has been the dream of every Indian to have a train running to Kashmir. For this, we have made long preparations, and now this USBRL section is ready. There is a 119-kilometre tunnel in this 272-kilometre section. This entire area is very important from the religious, tourism and connectivity point of view of Kashmir,' Kumar said.

He further pointed out that on the day of its inauguration, two Vande Bharat Express trains will begin service, one running from Srinagar and the other from Katra to Srinagar.

'On the date of commencement of the project, we have planned to run two Vande Bharat Express trains. One Vande Bharat Express train will run from Srinagar, and the other will run from Katra to Srinagar,' the Railway Board Executive Director said.

On January 23, Indian Railways conducted the trial run of the first Vande Bharat train from the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra (SVDK) railway station to the Srinagar railway station. The train will run through Anji Khad Bridge, India's first cable-stayed railway bridge, and Chenab Bridge, the highest railway bridge in the world.

This train has been designed keeping in mind the cold climate conditions of the Kashmir valley. (ANI)