Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to inaugurate the newly established Jammu railway division via virtual mode on Monday. This new division aims to improve train service management in northern India and fulfills a long-standing demand of the local population. The inauguration comes just before the anticipated launch of train services from Katra to Kashmir, with final trial runs scheduled for Tuesday.
An official confirmed, “The Prime Minister will inaugurate the Jammu railway division virtually from New Delhi tomorrow.”
In Jammu, the event will feature addresses by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, and Member of Parliament Jugal Kishore Sharma. Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh is also expected to attend.
The new division, headquartered in Jammu, will reorganize parts of the Firozpur Division. It will cover sections including Pathankot-Jammu-Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla (423 km), Bhogpur-Sirwal-Pathankot (87.21 km), Batala (excluding)-Pathankot (68.17 km), and the narrow gauge Pathankot-Joginder Nagar section (163.72 km). Altogether, these sections span 742.1 kilometers.
Currently, Indian Railways operates 17 zones with 68 divisions nationwide. With this addition, there will be 70 divisions across the 17 zones. The exact jurisdiction will be finalized based on a Detailed Project Report.
The new division will boast modern facilities, utilizing advanced Information Technology. It will oversee iconic rail projects like India’s first cable-stayed rail bridge, the Anji Khad Bridge, and the world’s highest railway arch bridge over the Chenab River at Kauri. The Chenab Rail Bridge stands 359 meters above the riverbed, surpassing the Eiffel Tower’s height by 35 meters.
Additionally, the division will manage the nearing-completion Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Railway Link (USBRL) project. The Anji Khad Bridge measures 473.25 meters, featuring a 120-meter viaduct and a 94.25-meter central embankment.
Currently, the Firozpur Division of Northern Railways manages railway services in Jammu and Kashmir. As for the upcoming train services to Kashmir from Delhi, the Commissioner of Railway Safety will conduct inspections and trials on January 7 and 8. The phased rollout of train services is expected to complete 255 km of the 272-kilometer USBRL project, with only a small section between Katra and Reasi remaining, targeted for completion by December.
