PM Modi to inaugurate Jammu railway division on January 6

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will virtually inaugurate the newly formed Jammu railway division on Monday (January 6), which will lead to better management of train services in India’s northernmost region. The development was a key demand of the local population. The event comes ahead of the inauguration of train services to Kashmir from Katra, with the final trial run slated for Tuesday.

“The Prime Minister will inaugurate the Jammu railway division virtually from New Delhi tomorrow,” an official stated. The ceremony in Jammu will be attended by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Member of Parliament Jugal Kishore Sharma, and Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh.

Headquartered in Jammu, the new division is the result of restructuring the Firozpur Division. It will oversee several important railway sections, including the Pathankot-Jammu-Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla route (423 km), Bhogpur-Sirwal-Pathankot (87.21 km), Batala-Pathankot (68.17 km), and Pathankot-Joginder Nagar (narrow gauge section, 163.72 km), totaling 742.1 km. Indian Railways currently operates 17 zones and 68 divisions across the country, and this new division brings the total to 70 divisions.

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Railway officials mentioned that the final jurisdiction of the division will be finalized following the Detailed Project Report. The division will be equipped with modern technology and IT infrastructure to enhance operations.

This new division will play a crucial role in overseeing several iconic projects, including 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, located in Reasi district, stands at a staggering 359 meters above the riverbed, 35 meters taller than the Eiffel Tower.

Additionally, the Jammu division will manage the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Railway Link (USBRL), which is nearing completion. The Anji Khad Bridge, part of the USBRL project, stretches 473.25 meters, including a 120-meter viaduct and a 94.25-meter central embankment.

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Currently, the Firozpur Division of Northern Railways manages train services in Jammu and Kashmir. Regarding the Kashmir train services, the Commissioner of Railway Safety is set to conduct final inspections and trials on January 7 and 8. With the phased commissioning of the USBRL project, the Railways is expected to complete 255 km of the 272-km line, with only a small stretch between Katra and Reasi to be completed by December.