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Modi flags off inaugural train from Katra

July 04, 2014 11:42 IST
A passenger train travelling the Jammu-Udhampur rail line comes out of a tunnel on the outskirts of Jammu.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday flagged off the inaugural train from Katra in Jammu, the base camp for Vaishno Devi shrine.

Modi suggested that new train to Katra be named Shreeshakti express.

Jammu's development will never be stalled, said Modi allaying fears of the city-dwellers.

We have to further enhance rail links in Jammu and Kashmir, said Modi.

The train for Jammu will chug along the newly constructed line from the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra Station.

The 25 km long Udhampur-Katra line, commissioned after prolonged delays, has been built at an estimated cost of Rs 1,132.75 crore (Rs 11.32 billion).

The train will traverse through seven tunnels and over 30 small and large bridges.

Trains will be able to reach Katra directly as the 53-km Jammu-Udhampur rail line is already operational and now the Udhampur-Katra line, which is a part of the Kashmir rail link project, is being commissioned.

This would enable pilgrims headed to the Vaishno Devi shrine to travel directly to the base camp at Katra. 

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