Post by : Jyoti Gupta

Photo:AFP

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has opened a new train line that connects Kashmir Valley to the rest of India by train for the first time. This railway line starts from Udhampur in Jammu and goes all the way to Srinagar, the main city in Indian-controlled Kashmir.

This was Modi’s first visit to Kashmir since the recent fight between India and Pakistan. Last month, there was a deadly attack in the Kashmir region where 26 people, mostly tourists, died. India said Pakistan-supported militants were behind the attack. In response, India launched airstrikes, and Pakistan replied with drone attacks. Both countries agreed to a ceasefire on May 10.

During his visit, PM Modi also opened the Chenab Rail Bridge, which is the highest railway arch bridge in the world, and the Anji Bridge, which is India’s first cable-stayed railway bridge.

The new Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla railway line is 272 kilometers (169 miles) long. Earlier, people could only go to Kashmir by road or by flight. Now, with this train, it will be easier and faster to travel.

PM Modi said this railway will give "all-weather connectivity" to the valley. It will also help bring more tourism, especially spiritual tourism, and give jobs and business chances to the people there.

The train will also reduce the travel time between Katra (in Jammu) and Srinagar to just three hours.

Modi walked across the Chenab bridge carrying a big Indian flag as a symbol of the project's opening. He said this is not just a train line, but a big step for development and unity.