Reasi, June 6: Security has been significantly stepped up across Jammu and Kashmir ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s scheduled visit, with heightened vigilance and intensified inspections, especially in Katra town of Reasi district.
Security forces conducted extensive checks in Ramban district on Thursday, deploying dog squads and carrying out detailed vehicle inspections at key transit points. Additional security measures were also implemented at Udhampur Railway Station to ensure the smooth and safe movement of passengers and dignitaries.
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, along with Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh, visited Katra railway station to oversee preparations and inspect the Vande Bharat trains set to be flagged off during the Prime Minister’s visit.
As part of his itinerary, Prime Minister Modi will dedicate the much-anticipated Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project to the nation—an ambitious initiative aimed at enhancing rail connectivity between the Kashmir Valley and the rest of India. He will also flag off two Vande Bharat Express trains operating between Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra and Srinagar.
In addition to rail infrastructure, the Prime Minister will inaugurate and lay the foundation stones for a series of road projects. These include:
- Widening of the Rafiabad-Kupwara road on National Highway-701.
- Construction of the Shopian Bypass on NH-444.
- Inauguration of two major flyovers at Sangrama Junction on NH-1 and Bemina Junction on NH-44.
These infrastructure projects, with a cumulative cost of over ₹1,952 crore, are expected to significantly decongest traffic and improve transportation efficiency across the Union Territory.
A major highlight of the visit will be the laying of the foundation stone for the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence in Katra. Estimated at over ₹350 crore, the institute will be the first medical college in Reasi district, aiming to strengthen the region’s healthcare infrastructure and medical education.
Notably, this will be Prime Minister Modi’s first visit to Jammu and Kashmir following Operation Sindoor—India’s precision strikes on terror camps in Pakistan carried out on May 7 in retaliation to the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, which claimed the lives of 26 civilians, mostly tourists.
