Srinagar: The Jammu-Srinagar rail connection will be opened by the end of this year, according to Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, who stated on Saturday that J&K will have a Vande Bharat train by 2024.
The Railway Minister told reporters that two additional locations, in addition to Kupwara district, will soon be linked by the Railways while attending an event in the Baramulla district.
"Rail link across J&K will be improved by year-end. Telephone connectivity, double lines, apple trade, cement and pharmaceutical trade and parcel services will be ensured through rail link by the year-end," the minister said.
It may be mentioned that a small train run on the railway bridge over the Chenab River was successfully completed recently.
The bridge built at a cost of around Rs 1,400 crore is the biggest civil engineering challenge faced by any Railway project in India in recent history. It is the highest Railway bridge in the world.
The 1.315-km long bridge built at a dizzying height of 359 metres can fit the entire Eiffel Tower (330 metres tall) plus roughly a 10-storied tall building below it.
With inputs from IANS