Prime Minister Narendra Modi is all set to launch BJP’s aggressive poll campaign in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir by launching a slew of developmental projects including the highest railway bridge over Chenab in Reasi district on February 20.
Initially, the Union government was keen on launching the dream project to connect Kashmir with the rest of the country before the imposition of the model code of conduct. However, the timeline of the 272-km Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla rail link project has been rescheduled due to ongoing works between Katra and Sangaldan railway stations. The Northern Railways is working overtime to complete the remaining work of signaling, tracks, electrification, and other allied works on the last section.
The Prime Minister is scheduled to address a public rally in Jammu on February 20, the minister of state in the Prime Minister’s office, Dr Jitendra Singh said on Tuesday. He was in his parliamentary constituency Udhampur to witness the stoppage of the Katra-Delhi Vande Bhart Express train at the Martyr Captain Tushar Mahajan Railway station.
The brief stoppage of the medium-distance superfast express train at Udhampur and Kathua railway stations was introduced to facilitate the people of the area.
“We wanted the prime minister to visit J-K before the start of the election code of conduct. His program has been finalised for February 20 during which he will launch various projects and also address a public meeting,” the minister told reporters in Udhampur.
Meanwhile, the district authorities in Jammu have already started preparing for the Prime Minister’s visit next week. Maulana Azad sports stadium has been finalized as the venue of the rally. Security has been beefed up in advance and extra security forces have been deployed in and around the stadium premises to maintain tight vigil.
According to official sources, the prime minister is scheduled to inaugurate an All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) at Vijaypur in Samba, the highest railway bridge over Chenab in Reasi district, Devika project at Udhampur, IIM Jammu and Shahpur-Kandi Dam project.
The Jammu and Kashmir Unit of the BJP has also started preparing for the grand welcome of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.