Reasi (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], June 6 (ANI): As Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated several railway projects in Jammu and Kashmir on Friday, the loco pilot of the newly launched Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra (SVDK) to Srinagar Vande Bharat Express said the achievement was only possible due to the 'hard work, dedication, devotion and determination' of railway workers.

Calling it a proud moment for the country, the loco pilot, Sharma, said that railway engineers overcame serious technical and geographical hurdles to make the project a reality.

'This is a proud moment for all of us Indians that PM Narendra Modi, Rail Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, and the Indian Railways workers have fulfilled an age-old dream. The hard work, dedication, devotion and determination of railway workers, particularly of Railway Engineers, has paid off. It was not an ordinary or easy task. There were lots of challenges in this project. The route is extremely challenging... This is a big achievement for India. It feels like India has entered in Viksit (developed) world. This Vande Bharat is lashed with modern technologies. There is ease, comfort and reliability in travel with these Vande Bharat trains,' Sharma said.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off two Vande Bharat Express trains from Katra Railway Station, directly connecting the Jammu division with Kashmir.

This marks a major milestone in Jammu and Kashmir's railway connectivity.

Before flagging off the trains, Prime Minister Modi interacted with school children onboard and also spoke with railway staff members present on the train.

The new Vande Bharat Express service will reduce the travel time between Katra and Srinagar from the current 6-7 hours by road to just about 3 hours. The trains aim to provide a fast, comfortable, and reliable travel option for residents, tourists, and pilgrims.

The train will run through the Anji Khad Bridge, which is India's first cable-stayed railway bridge, and the Chenab Bridge, which is the highest railway bridge in the world.

These trains have been specially designed to operate in the cold climatic conditions of the Kashmir Valley.

Earlier today, Prime Minister Modi inaugurated the world's highest railway arch bridge - 'Chenab Railway Bridge' and India's first cable-stayed 'Anji Bridge' in Jammu and Kashmir's Reasi district.

In a remarkable gesture, Prime Minister Modi waved the Tiranga, the Indian national flag and carried it forward on the deck of the bridge on the Chenab River.

These bridges are part of the ambitious Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Railway Link (USBRL) project in Jammu and Kashmir.

The Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project is a 272 km long USBRL project, constructed worth around Rs 43,780 crore, includes 36 tunnels (spanning 119 km) and 943 bridges. The project establishes all-weather, seamless rail connectivity between the Kashmir Valley and the rest of the country, aiming to transform regional mobility and drive socio-economic integration. (ANI)