Srinagar, Jun 4: Extraordinary security arrangements have been put in place across Jammu and elsewhere in J&K ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit on June 6, when he is scheduled to inaugurate two specially designed Vande Bharat Express trains connecting Srinagar and Katra.
The high-profile event marks the completion of the ambitious Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Line (USBRL) project, a strategic infrastructure project that has been in the making for over four decades.
The 272-km-long railway line is set to revolutionise travel and connectivity between Kashmir and the rest of the country.
In light of the PMs visit, security forces have undertaken unprecedented measures to ensure a safe and incident-free event.
Senior Police officials and top brass from central security agencies are monitoring the arrangements.
ìWe have made elaborate and multi-layered security arrangements in coordination with central paramilitary forces,î said a senior Police officer from Jammu. ìAll sensitive locations, particularly in Jammu and along the rail route, are under strict surveillance. Anti-sabotage checks, aerial surveillance, and drone monitoring are already in place.î
The senior official from J&K Police said that additional companies of security personnel, including CRPF and other paramilitary forces, have been deployed across critical zones, including Banihal, Katra, and Srinagar.
ìThere is a coordinated grid in place involving traffic control, air cover, Quick Reaction Teams (QRTs), and sniper deployment at vantage points,î the official said. ìWe are also conducting random checks and Cordon and Search Operations (CASOs).î
Security has been particularly heightened around Jammu, where the PM is expected to hold key interactions following the inauguration.
Road and rail traffic in some areas may be temporarily regulated, and residents have been advised to cooperate with local authorities.
The grand inauguration will also symbolise the formal launch of the Katra-Banihal rail section – an engineering marvel completed in January 2025.
The section was originally slated for inauguration on April 19 but was postponed due to adverse weather forecasts.
Railway officials expressed pride over the completion of the USBRL.
ìThis is a transformative milestone not just for J&K but for the nation. Linking the Valley with a high-speed, modern railway system will boost economic growth, tourism, and strategic mobility,î said a senior official of Northern Railway.
As the PMís visit draws near, authorities remain on high alert.
A high-level coordination centre is functioning round-the-clock to review real-time updates, while drone units are patrolling key stretches of the railway line.
