Srinagar: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday flagged off the inaugural train from Katra in Jammu, the base camp for Vaishno Devi shrine. The Prime Minister flagged off the Diesel Multiple Unit (DMU) had school children aboard at around 9.55 am today from Katra Railway station to Udhampur.
Katra-Udhampur rail line is around 25 kilometres long and consists of the 9.4 kilometres long Udhampur-Chak Rakhwal and 15.5 kilometers long Chak Rakhwal-Mata Vaishno Devi Katra sections.
The approximate cost of this section is Rs 1,132 crore. The bridge on River Jhajjar is the longest steel girder bridge in India with a height of 85 metres. There are 8 tunnels and 29 minor bridges on Udhampur-Katra track.
Meanwhile, authorities on Friday imposed restrictions in parts of the city to prevent any law and order situation in view of the separatists' strike call against Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Jammu and Kashmir.
Restrictions under Section 144 CrPC have been imposed in Khanyar, Nowhatta, Rainawari, M R Gunj and Safakadal police station areas of the city as a precautionary measure, a senior police official said.
He said the restrictions were imposed as there was apprehension about some persons creating trouble during the Prime Minister's visit to the state today.
Elsewhere in the city, police and paramilitary personnel have been deployed in strength to ensure that Modi's visit passes off peacefully, the official said.
During his visit to the state today, the Prime Minister is to inaugurate a rail link to put Katra on the railway map and address a Sanik Samelan here.
Meanwhile, normal life across the valley was disrupted due to the strike call given by all the three factions of Hurriyat Conference and JKLF against Modi's visit.
Schools, colleges, business establishments, banks and petrol pumps remained closed while public transport remained off the roads due to the strike.
However, few private cars and cabs ferrying tourists could be seen plying on the roads in the city.
