Katra: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has reiterated the long-standing demand for the restoration of statehood to the Union Territory, expressing strong belief that it will be Prime Minister Narendra Modi who eventually fulfils this aspiration.
Speaking in Katra during a significant railway event attended by top political leaders, including PM Modi, CM Abdullah reflected on the past, acknowledged the changing political landscape, and struck a hopeful tone for the future of Jammu and Kashmir.
The occasion marked the ceremonial flagging off of two Vande Bharat Express trains from Katra Railway Station — a major milestone in India’s ambitious rail infrastructure development. The event was graced by Prime Minister Modi, Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, and Union Minister Jitendra Singh, alongside CM Abdullah.
Reflecting on his long association with railway developments in the region, CM Abdullah said:
“It has been my luck and fortune that whenever there have been big programs for railways, I have been part of it. The first time Anantnag rail station was inaugurated, when the Banihal rail tunnel was opened. Looking back at the last program of my first term in 2014 happened here too… You had also become the Prime Minister for the first time, just after elections, you came here and inaugurated the Katra railway station, and you won the elections a total of 3 times to remain PM.”
In a rare moment of bipartisan optimism, he further expressed his expectations for political normalcy and the return of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir.
“The same four people were present here in 2014 when the Katra Railway Station was inaugurated, Manoj Sinha, who was then MoS (Minister of State) for railways, got promoted as post of LG, and I got from CM of a state to CM of a UT. But things will get back to normal before we know it, and J&K will be given the status of a state by PM Narendra Modi.”
Meanwhile, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha praised the national integration efforts led by Prime Minister Modi, particularly highlighting the symbolic and logistical significance of the new railway line.
“By uniting the two corners of the country, he has also made the dreams of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and Dr Syama Prasad Mookherjee come true… He has also connected the beating hearts of millions of Indians in the cities connected by this railway line… The railway bridge inaugurated today is not just cement and iron but a medium to connect the aspirations of Jammu and Kashmir.”
Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Modi flagged off two Vande Bharat Express trains from Katra, marking a transformative leap in Jammu and Kashmir’s rail connectivity. The high-speed trains are set to drastically reduce travel time between Katra and Srinagar — from 6–7 hours by road to just about 3 hours.
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During the inauguration, the Prime Minister also interacted with school children and railway staff on board the new trains, adding a personal touch to the historic occasion.
A technical marvel, the Vande Bharat route passes through two engineering landmarks — the Anji Khad Bridge, India’s first cable-stayed railway bridge, and the Chenab Bridge, the highest railway bridge in the world. PM Modi also inaugurated both structures during the event. In a symbolic gesture, he waved the national flag and walked across the bridge over the Chenab River.
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These structures are part of the broader Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Railway Link (USBRL), a monumental project aimed at integrating Kashmir with India’s railway network. Built at a cost of approximately ₹43,780 crore, the 272-kilometre USBRL project includes 36 tunnels (spanning 119 km) and 943 bridges — overcoming immense geological and seismic challenges to create an all-weather transport corridor.
The USBRL promises to redefine regional mobility and spur socio-economic development by seamlessly linking the Kashmir Valley with the rest of the country.
