Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Friday described the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Railway Line (USBRL) as a “powerful example of continuity in governance,” asserting that the landmark railway project reflects decades of collaborative effort across successive governments—contrary to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s claims of singular achievement.
Ramesh’s remarks came ahead of PM Modi’s visit to Jammu and Kashmir, where he is set to inaugurate several infrastructure projects, including the much-anticipated Chenab Bridge—hailed as the world’s highest railway arch bridge.
In a post on X, Ramesh stated, “As the PM visits J&K today, here is our statement on the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Railway Line (USBRL) that, like BrahMos, is a powerful example of continuity in governance—which he never acknowledges but cannot run away from.”
According to Ramesh, the USBRL project was first sanctioned in March 1995 under Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao and later declared a national project in March 2002 during Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s tenure. He emphasized that progress on key stretches, including the Baramulla-Qazigund link, had already been achieved by June 2013.
Taking a swipe at PM Modi, the Congress General Secretary accused him of routinely denying the contributions of previous administrations in his quest for “self-glory.” Ramesh pointed out that major contracts for the 111 km Katra-Banihal section and the iconic Chenab Bridge had been awarded well before 2014—some as early as 2005—to firms like Konkan Railway Corporation, Afcons, VSK India, and South Korea’s Ultra Construction and Engineering Ltd.
Ramesh further noted that Dr. Manmohan Singh had inaugurated the Jammu-Udhampur rail segment in April 2005, underlining Congress’ role in laying the groundwork for what is now being showcased as a historic milestone.
In an official statement, the Congress extended greetings to the people of Jammu and Kashmir and congratulated Indian Railways, public sector units, and private contractors for overcoming significant challenges in executing the 272-km USBRL project over nearly three decades.
Meanwhile, security has been intensified in Jammu and Kashmir ahead of PM Modi’s visit, particularly in Katra city of Reasi district. During his visit, the Prime Minister will inaugurate the Chenab and Anji bridges and flag off new Vande Bharat trains.
The Northern Railway has announced that regular Vande Bharat Express services between Srinagar and Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra will commence on June 7. The high-speed trains will run six days a week, significantly improving connectivity between the Kashmir Valley and one of India’s most visited pilgrimage destinations.
