PM Modi to Virtually Launch Jammu Railway Division, Fulfilling Long-Standing Regional Demand

Jammu, Jan 5: PM Narendra Modi is set to virtually inaugurate the newly created Jammu railway division on January 6, marking a significant milestone for the northernmost region of India. The establishment of this division, headquartered in Jammu, addresses a long-standing demand from the people of the region, aiming to enhance the efficient management of train services. The inauguration comes ahead of the much-anticipated start of train services to Kashmir from Katra, with the final trial run scheduled for January 7.

Officials have confirmed that the Prime Minister will inaugurate the Jammu railway division virtually from New Delhi. The event will be attended in Jammu by prominent figures, including Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Member of Parliament Jugal Kishore Sharma, and Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh.

The newly created division involves the reorganization of the Firozpur Division and will oversee a network of 742.1 kilometers. It includes key railway sections such as Pathankot-Jammu-Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla (423 route km), Bhogpur-Sirwal-Pathankot (87.21 route km), Batala (excluding)-Pathankot (68.17 route km), and Pathankot-Joginder Nagar (narrow gauge section, 163.72 route km). These sections will enhance connectivity, facilitating smoother train operations in the region.

Presently, the Indian Railways operates 68 divisions under 17 zones. With the creation of the Jammu division, this number will increase to 70 divisions under the same zones, improving administrative efficiency and infrastructure management.

The Jammu Railway Division will also play a critical role in overseeing key infrastructure projects, including India’s first cable-stayed rail bridge—the Anji Khad Bridge—and the world’s highest railway arch bridge located over the Chenab River at Kauri. The Chenab Rail Bridge, situated in the Reasi district, stands 359 meters above the riverbed, making it 35 meters taller than the Eiffel Tower in Paris.

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

Currently, railway services in Jammu and Kashmir are managed by the Firozpur Division of Northern Railways. The inauguration of train services to Kashmir from Delhi is also set to proceed, with the Commissioner of Railway Safety conducting statutory inspections and final trials scheduled for January 7 and 8.

The phased commissioning of train services will allow the Railways to complete 255 km of the 272-kilometer USBRL project, leaving a short section between Katra and Reasi to be finished by December. The establishment of the Jammu railway division and the progress on USBRL projects are expected to strengthen regional connectivity, boosting economic development and ensuring greater accessibility for the people of Jammu and Kashmir.