By News On Air Jan 05, 2025
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of various railway projects via video conferencing. In a key move to further boost connectivity in the region, the Prime Minister inaugurated the new Jammu Railway Division. The creation of the Jammu Railway Division will significantly benefit Jammu and Kashmir and surrounding regions, fulfilling the long-pending aspiration of the people. It comprises of Pathankot – Jammu – Udhampur – Srinagar – Baramulla, Bhogpur Sirwal – Pathankot, Batala – Pathankot and Pathankot to Joginder Nagar sections. It will also create employment opportunities, and infrastructure development, promote tourism and lead to the overall socio-economic development of the region.
Prime Minister Modi also inaugurated the Charlapalli New Terminal Station in Telangana and laid the foundation stone of the Rayagada Railway Division Building of East Coast Railway. Charlapalli New Terminal Station in the Medchal-Malkajgiri District has been developed as a new coaching terminal along with the provision of a second entry with a cost of around 413 crore rupees. This environment-friendly terminal, having good passenger amenities, will ease congestion on the existing coaching terminals in the city like Secunderabad, Hyderabad and Kacheguda. The Rayagada Railway Division Building of East Coast Railway will improve connectivity in Odisha, Andhra Pradesh and nearby areas and lead to overall socio-economic development of the region.
Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister said the launch of rail infrastructure projects in Jammu-Kashmir, Telangana and Odisha will promote tourism and add to socio-economic development in these regions. He added that the country is engaged in achieving the resolution of a developed India and for this, the development of Indian Railways is very important. He also said, that the last decade has been the decade of visible transformation of the Indian railway and it has changed the image of the country. He highlighted that the government is taking forward the development of railways on the four parameters of modernization of infrastructure, modern facilities for railway passengers, railway connectivity in every corner of the country and job creation and supporting industries. Mr Modi said today India is close to 100 per cent electrification of railway lines.
On the occasion, Union Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said that the creation of the Jammu Railway Division will help in the development of new facilities in Jammu and Kashmir and promote tourism. Chief Minister of Odisha Mohan Charan Majhi, Jammu and Kashmir CM Omar Abdullah, Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy and others also spoke on the occasion.
Akashvani Jammu Correspondent reports that while addressing the inauguration ceremony of the new rail division at Jammu Chief Minister Omar Abdullah promised that Jammu would not suffer economic losses due to the direct rail link to Kashmir. Omar said, the new division is expected to create jobs, enhance trade, and boost tourism. Omar said this is a historic moment for Jammu & Kashmir. Talking about Srinagar-Katra rail line, the Chief Minister said that this connectivity would resolve long-standing challenges, such as disruptions in winter flights and exorbitant airfare.