PM Modi in Jammu and Kashmir, Flags Off First Katra-Udhampur Train

Katra: Prime Minister Narendra Modi today flagged off a new train to Katra, the base town for the Vaishno Devi shrine, on his first visit to Jammu and Kashmir after taking over as Prime Minister.

Mr Modi addressed a gathering after inaugurating the rail link. Here are the highlights:

• Amarnath Yatra going on at one hand and the holy month of Ramzan at the other
• The whole atmosphere is pious, and this inauguration has been done in this atmosphere
• This rail link is dedicated not just to Jammu and Kashmir but to the whole country
• The train is for all those people waiting to come to Mata Vaishno Devi's charan
• This train should be known as the Shri Shakti Express
• I assure you that there will be no shortage or obstacle in the development of Jammu
• The train is not just to commute, it gives birth to development
• We will make Jammu's development more qualitative. Katra will develop very fast.
• The start made by Atal Bihari Vajpayee of connecting Jammu and Kashmir through Railways, we have to take this ahead
• This train would enable pilgrims headed to Vaishno Devi to travel directly to the base camp at Katra
• In one ticket, the passenger can cover travel by train the distance which was earlier covered by train and bus combined
• I agree with the chief minister, we should have a state-of-the-art Railway station
• We aim to have Railway stations that have more facilities than airports
• I assure people of India that we will make our Railway Stations modern with proper facilities
• Private parties will also be ready to invest in this profitable rail link
• This is going to add speed and strength to J&K's development
• Environment-friendly transportation will be encouraged
• Our aim is to win the heart of every citizen of Jammu and Kashmir through development
• I remember I began election campaign from here & today we begin our development journey from here
• Today J&K will get both speed and energy. I am inaugurating this and a power project later today