PM’s Jammu
cannot think of the welfare of the common people. I am happy to see Jammu and Kashmir is getting free from the dynastic rule,” he said
“A developed India means a developed Jammu and Kashmir.”
Modi said the common people of Jammu and Kashmir got assurance of social justice mentioned in the Constitution for the first time after abrogation of Art 370. “There is a lot of enthusiasm in the whole world today about a developing Jammu and Kashmir.”
Referring to the projects which he either inaugurated or laid the foundation stone for, Modi said it was a remarkable day for Jammu and Kashmir. “The projects in Jammu and Kashmir will propel holistic development of the region,” he said.
The prime minister said that a record number of schools, colleges and universities were established in India in the last 10 years, with 50 new degree colleges set up in Jammu and Kashmir alone.
Modi asserted that his government was committed to transforming the Valley into a tourist destination that could rival Switzerland.
Modi heralded a new era for the region and declared that Jammu and Kashmir is breaking free from dynastic rule, with his government now directly engaging with the populace.
During his over 30-minute speech, Modi reminisced about the tumultuous past of J-K marred by violence and separatism and commended the current shift towards a harmonious and prospering Jammu and Kashmir, attributing it to balanced development initiatives.
“We have seen the days when only disappointing news used to come from JK. Bomb, guns, kidnapping and separatism had become its misfortune. Today, we are seeing a new J-K with balanced and holistic development,” Modi said in his speech which he began in Dogri language.
Despite rain, thousands of locals attended the rally. It was Modi’s second visit to the Jammu region after the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019. Earlier he had addressed a public rally in Samba district in April 2022.
Expressing his vision for a flourishing Jammu and Kashmir, Modi vowed to construct infrastructure to rival international destinations like Switzerland.
“We have pledged a developed J&K and I have full faith that we will make Jammu and Kashmir more developed and fulfill all your dreams within the next few years...We will create such infrastructure in Kashmir that people will forget going to Switzerland,” he said.
The prime minister lauded the newfound spirit of the youth in the region, highlighting the transition from desolation to vibrancy in everyday life and also shared his optimism regarding investments from Gulf countries, underscoring the positive reception towards the erstwhile state.
Reflecting on the global interest ignited by the G20 event in Srinagar, Modi expressed satisfaction over the surge in tourism and devotees visiting the Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine.
“The beauty of Kashmir, traditions and culture which got highlighted during the G20 event (in Srinagar last year) had left an impression on the people and everyone wants to visit the place,” Modi said expressing satisfaction over the footfall of a record number of over two crore tourists and highest number of devotees to Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine in a decade.
He said there is a lot of enthusiasm in the whole world today about a developing Jammu and Kashmir, emphasising the monumental impact of scrapping Article 370 in ushering in an era of inclusive growth and social justice.
Modi urged the nation to grant his party 370 seats in the upcoming Parliamentary elections, marking the significance of the Article 370 annulment.
Stating that J-K was a victim of “dynastic rule” with those at the helm of affairs only working for their self-interest, the prime minister said he is happy that the UT is getting freed of this.
“The dynastic rulers were only concerned about their own interests. They had no concern for the future of the youth and your families as they were only concerned about their own families. The government whose priority is the welfare of just one family cannot think of the welfare of the common people,” Modi said in an apparent reference to Congress, National Conference and PDP who ruled the erstwhile state in the past seven decades.
Taking on the Congress party, he said this party only believed in lip service to the armed forces and it was his government which fulfilled promises like ‘One Rank One Pension’, benefiting soldiers. He rounded off his address by affirming that a prosperous India is synonymous with a thriving Jammu and Kashmir. incidents, stone pelting is a history, local terrorist recruitment is at an all-time low. Nightlife has returned to Kashmir and Cinemas are functional. People are spending time late at night on Jhelum river fronts and time is not far when people of Jammu will spend time on the River Tawi,” the LG said.
MoS in the PMO, Dr Jitendra Singh said that it was due to PM Modi’s efforts, 70 years of injustice ended in J&K. “Every section of society, be that Gujjars, Bakerwals, Paharis, Valmikis and KPs are living a dignified life,” he said. “Today, we have the world’s highest rail bridge over Chenab and Asia’s longest tunnel on the highway. Modi hai to mumkin hai…”
Lauding Kirti for her contribution, the PM sought support from the country’s women folk and said he wants to make three crore women in India “lakhpati didis”.
“You have brought a revolution. I have a big dream for sisters like you who work in self-help groups. Among them, I want to make three crore women lakhpati didis. Can you help me with this?” the prime minister asked Kirti.
She replied saying she will fully support Modi’s mission of “lakhpati didis”.
“There are 5,871 women in groups in the district. I will help them become ‘lakhpati didis’ in order to help you,” she said.
Narrating her story, Kirti said that her group is named as Ayaan.
“I had no employment before joining a self-help group. I had no identity of my own. By joining the group, I got an opportunity to depend on self. I was successful in empowering other women. I took a loan of Rs 30,000 and purchased one cow. It has boosted my economy. We took three cows,” she said.
She further said her endeavour is to make women of these groups in the district self-dependent and empowered.
From farmers to SHG members, Modi interacted with five beneficiaries - including three from Jammu and two from Kashmir - to learn about the impact of schemes such as Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Gramin (PMAY-G), PM Kisan, Jal Jeevan Mission, National Rural Livelihood Mission, Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY), Ayushman Bharat, PM Ujjwala and Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan (PM-KUSUM) on their lives.
The prime minister acknowledged the exemplary role played by Shaheen Begum, a post-graduate entrepreneur from north Kashmir’s Bandipora area.
Shaheen, a beneficiary of the Deendayal Antyodaya scheme, has transformed the lives of rural women in Kashmir by setting up SHGs and various units, including a poultry farm.
She credited the prime minister for her success, stating, “Your schemes have changed our lives. I never dreamt that such a change would take place. It was a difficult life for us but you changed it. We thank you, Sir.”
PM Modi praised Shaheen for her entrepreneurship skills and also commended her parents for educating her.
He said, “I bow before your parents for educating you. You are becoming a successful entrepreneur. That shows everything is possible under the Modi rule,” he said.
Continuing the engagement, he greeted Lal Mohammad, a Gujjar from Poonch district, who has successfully constructed a house under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Gramin (PMAY-G).
Mohammad recited a poem in praise of Modi and India, expressing his support to them.
The prime minister extended greetings to Riyaz Ahmed Kohli from Pulwama and Veena Parihar from Atholi (Paddar) in Kishtwar district, the first time beneficiaries of the Jal Jeevan Mission and PM Ujjwala schemes which gave them piped water supply and gas connection respectively, in the remotest areas of J&K.
Kohli shared his story about the manner in which his remote village got connected through piped water under Jal Jeevan Mission to provide water supply to their village.
“We have got water connections for the first time since Independence. We got benefited from the forest rights law after the abrogation of Article 370. We thank you, Sir. I never thought about talking to the PM like this. We are fortunate to talk to you,” he said.
Banihal-Khari-Sumber-Sangaldan section. “This longest tunnel, which is 12.77-km long and known as T-50, falls between the Khari-Sumber section,” the official said.
According to the Northern Railway (NR), trains can now run from Baramulla to Sangaldan via Banihal, which used to be the last or originating station earlier.
T-50 is supposed to be the most challenging of the 11 tunnels in the Banihal-Khari-SumberSangadal section.
According to railway officials associated with the project, the tunnel work started around 2010 and it took almost 14 years to operationalise it.
“All safety measures have been taken inside the tunnel to meet emergency situations. An escape tunnel has been constructed parallel to T-50 to evacuate passengers in case of any emergency,” an official said.
“At every 375 metres, a connecting passage between the escape tunnel and T-50 has been made so that the passengers can be brought to the escape tunnel and then, carried to their desired destinations in vehicles,” he added.
The official told PTI that in order to tackle a fire incident, water pipes have been laid on both sides of the tunnel with an opening valve provided at every 375 metres so that water can be sprayed on a train from both sides to douse the flames.
“Escape tunnels have been created for other bigger tunnels too,” he said.
According to NR officials, the opening up of the Banihal-Khari-Sumber-Sangaldan section has brought them a step closer to achieving the dream of running a train from the Kasmir valley in the north to Kanyakumari on the southern tip of the country.
“Earlier, eight diesel trains (four each from one side) were operating between Baramulla and Banihal. Today, Prime Minister Modi not only inaugurated the extension of the Banihal route to Sangaldan via Khari and Samber, but also flagged off the first electrified trains on the whole route from Baramulla to Sangaldan,” the official said.
Now, eight electrified trains have started running between Baramulla and Banihal and four of those have been extended to Sangaldan.
“The four other trains will also be extended up to Sangaldan after a couple of months,” the official added.
According to experts associated with the project, the first section of the USBRL -- the QazigundBaramulla section -- was operationalised by the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government in 2009. In July 2013, the BanihalQazigund section, which included the operationalisation of the 11.2-km-long T-80 Pir Panjal tunnel, was opened.
“Once the complete USBRL opens in the coming months, passengers will enjoy infrastructural marvels, such as the Chenab bridge, the highest railway bridge in the world, and the Anji bridge, which is the first cable-stayed bridge of the Indian Railways,” an NR official said, adding that the total length of the USBRL is 272 km and the cost of the project is Rs 41,119 crore. the country and especially in J&K.
He said many of these development projects were very ambitious from the start and credited the prime minister for pro-actively pursuing them to ensure that development reaches the last mile.
The AIIMS Jammu is set to offer comprehensive medical services, with an expected daily footfall of 2000-3000 patients in the outpatient department. The Phase-1 consists of establishing 750 beds, including 193 ICU beds catering to trauma care, general care and super-specialties, an official spokesman said.
He said AIIMS Jammu plans to build approximately 50 departments, encompassing both general and specialised care.
Advanced facilities like Nuclear Medicine, 20 Modular OTs, MRI and CT Scan operating roundthe-clock will ensure that humane and continuous care is readily available, he said.
Additionally, the spokesman said AIIMS Jammu’s dedicated two-storey ‘Aayush Block’ with 30 beds alongside other facilities and partnerships, reflects a holistic healthcare approach merging traditional and modern medicine to enhance regional health outcomes.
AIIMS Jammu will have an annual intake of 100 students for its MBBS programme and 60 students for nursing. It will also introduce post-graduate programmes in Medical, Dental (MD/MS/MDS), Nursing, Super Specialisation programmes (DM/ MCh), Doctorate (PhD) degrees, and more in the future.
With 54 per cent of its faculty and nearly 80 per cent nursing officers being women, AIIMS Jammu prioritises women empowerment through equal opportunities, supportive work environments and gender-sensitive policies, the spokesman said.