Prime Minister Narendra Modi waved the National flag, Tiranga, as he inaugurated the Chenab Bridge in Jammu and Kashmir on Friday.
After the Chenab bridge, Modi also inaugurated India’s first cable-stayed rail bridge over the river Anji. The prime minister then walked on the Chenab rail bridge holding the tricolour.
This is his first visit to the Union Territory since the Pahalgam terror attack, with a high-impact agenda that includes major infrastructure launches and developmental initiatives.
The Prime Minister’s visit prompted a multi-tier security setup to ensure his safety during the public rally in Katra. Heavy security forces, including the Special Protection Group (SPG), army, Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), and J&K Police, have been deployed around the venue.
He also flagged off Vande Bharat trains between Katra and Srinagar in Jammu and Kashmir shortly.
A PMO statement said Modi will launch multiple development projects worth over Rs 46,000 crore at Katra, the home to the Mata Vaishno Devi temple.
The Chenab Bridge is praised as an architectural marvel, standing 359 meters above the river. This 1,315-meter-long steel arch bridge is designed to withstand seismic activity and strong winds.
Among the other projects to be launched is the 272-km Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project. The prime minister will also lay the foundation stone of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence in Katra, worth over Rs 350 crore.
