Rs 41,000 Cr rail projects in progress in J&K: Jitendra

Katra, Dec 30: Union Minister Jitendra Singh Saturday said that Rs 41,000 crore rail projects were in progress in Jammu and Kashmir.

A statement of the Union Minister issued here said that Singh attending the flagging off of the second Vande Bharat Express, connecting Katra with New Delhi, Singh said, “With this, Katra is among the first lot of cities in the country to have two Vande Bharat Express trains.”

He said that the rail projects costing over Rs 41,000 crore were currently in progress in Jammu and Kashmir, which was a record in itself as no other union territory or state in the country had earned such a distinction.

“Similarly, more than Rs 6000 crore have been allocated for the rail sector development in J&K in the Union Budget,” the union minister said. He said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had accorded special attention and focus to the development of this region ever since he assumed office.

Singh said immediately after becoming the PM, Modi inaugurated Katra Railway station which had been completed in 2013.

“But, it took time for the PM to inaugurate it, reflecting that the holy city has a special place in PM’s heart,” he said.

The union minister said that the PM had stated that those areas of the country which remained not connected would see connectivity under his government for the overall development of the country.

“The PM fast-tracked the pace of development projects,” he said. Singh described today’s flagging off the Vande Bharat Express as the PM’s New Year gift to the people of J&K, especially Katra.

He said the shortcomings of the last 50 years had been addressed by none other than PM Modi.

“This is a testament to his commitment to the development of J&K,” the union minister said. “The way the web of rail connectivity has been unrolled in J&K, it will be a testament to the changing face of the union territory.”

He said that the record of over 2 crore tourists visiting Kashmir, and over 1 crore yatris paying obeisance at Mata Vaishno Devi shrine was an example of that connectivity.

Singh said that the government had reached the last person in the queue, delivering services like water, power, and medical facilities. He said that the role of J&K would have a critical importance in a developed India by 2047.