Marking India’s growing engineering prowess at a global stage, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to make history by inaugurating the two latest engineering marvels of modern India- world’s highest railway arch bridge, standing at a height of 359 metres from the Chenab river bed, and India’s first cable-stayed bridge over Anji khad ahead of inaugurating the Vande Bharat Express to Kashmir from Katra on April 19.

Before flagging off the train from the holy township of Katra, base camp of Mata Vaishno Devi Cave Shrine, the Prime Minister is scheduled to inspect the world’s highest railway arch bridge, which is 35 metres taller than the Eiffel Tower.

Traveling in a special train, the Prime Minister will also visit India’s first cable-stayed bridge located over the Anji Khad, one of the most vital links of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Railway project. 

Elaborate security arrangements have been made in advance amid ongoing anti-terror operations going on across different district headquarters of the Jammu region to flush out the Pakistani terrorists hiding inside the thickly forested areas. Three hardcore terrorists were eliminated in the Chatroo area of Kishtwar by the joint teams of security forces on April 12.

The Director General of Police, Nalin Prabhat, separately chaired a meeting of senior police officers on Monday in Jammu to review the foolproof security arrangements. Meanwhile, the railway authorities have also installed CCTV cameras for round-the-clock vigil along the track and at the important railway stations.

In addition, drone cameras have also been deployed to keep a hawk’s eye over the suspected movement of anti-national elements near the railway track. To ensure the safety of the vital bridges and tunnels along the route, additional deployment of security personnel has been made.

The Railway Protection Force, Indian army, and Government Railway Police personnel have been deployed along the 111 km route between Katra and Banihal.

To acknowledge the hard work of the large number of engineers, workers, technicians, who have worked on the prestigious national project since its inception, the railway authorities have extended invitations to them to witness the inauguration ceremony and become part of the history by embarking on the first train journey connecting Kashmir valley with the rest of the country.