Srinagar: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate five new train services connecting Delhi to the Kashmir Valley in January, offering a significant boost to connectivity and comfort for travelers, reports said.
The new trains, equipped with modern amenities including heating systems, aim to ensure passenger comfort during the harsh winter months, reports said.
They said Prime Minister Narendra Modi will virtually inaugurate Jammu Railway Division from New Delhi on January 6.
Railway officials have confirmed that the new services will feature advanced technology to ensure smooth operations in challenging weather conditions, including extreme cold and snowfall, often witnessed in the Valley. The introduction of heating systems in coaches marks a first for Indian Railways in addressing passenger comfort specifically for routes in colder regions.
Details regarding the schedule, stops, and ticket bookings for the new services are expected to be announced shortly by the Railway Ministry.
The Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBL) is an ambitious project of the Indian Railways that will connect Kashmir valley with the rest of the country.
Meanwhile, Security forces on Tuesday conducted a mock drill at Qazigund railway station in South Kashmir to assess the emergency response mechanism and preparedness to handle critical situations like terror attacks.
“Police along with CAPF, RPF, Fire and Emergency service in Kulgam conducted a mock drill exercise at Railway Station Qazigund today to assess emergency response mechanisms and preparedness in handling critical situations,” a police spokesperson said.
The mock drill was held to prepare field forces to respond promptly to any untoward incident, especially of a terror nature, with quick and safe response and to assess the security response time, coordination, and effectiveness, the spokesman said.
He said the exercise also aimed to identify areas for improvement and streamline the response mechanism.
“A team of specialist officers of Kulgam Police, CAPF, RPF, Fire and emergency service participated in the said exercise,” he added.
The mock drill comes ahead of the highly anticipated inauguration of the Udhampur-Banihal rail link that will pave the way for direct train services from Kashmir to the rest of the country.
PM Modi to launch 5 trains connecting Kashmir with Delhi
