Congress MP Jairam Ramesh on Friday launched a sharp critique of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing him of ignoring the contributions of previous governments in long-term national projects, including the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL).
Ramesh claimed that the Prime Minister is “perennially searching for self-glorification and self-publicity” and fails to acknowledge the continuity of governance that has enabled the successful completion of large infrastructure projects.
Speaking to ANI, the senior Congress leader said, “The BrahMos missile project and the USBRL are perfect examples of long-term national efforts. The Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla railway line was sanctioned in March 1995 under Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao. It was declared a national project by Atal Bihari Vajpayee in March 2002, and all contracts for the Chenab Bridge were awarded in 2005.”
Emphasising that nation-building is a collective endeavor, Ramesh added, “Today is an important day for the people of Jammu & Kashmir and Indian Railways, but it must be remembered as the culmination of 30 years of sustained effort across successive governments. Governance in continuity must be recognised.”
Despite the political exchange, excitement ran high in Katra as schoolchildren gathered to witness PM Modi’s visit for the official flagging-off of the Vande Bharat Express from Katra to Srinagar—part of the newly completed USBRL project.
The 272-km rail line, constructed at a cost of ₹43,780 crore, features 36 tunnels (covering 119 km) and 943 bridges. One of its key highlights is the Chenab Rail Bridge, the world’s highest railway arch bridge, towering 359 metres above the river. The bridge, along with India’s first cable-stayed Anji Bridge, is expected to drastically improve connectivity between Jammu and Srinagar, cutting travel time by 2–3 hours.
In Katra, PM Modi is also scheduled to dedicate several infrastructure initiatives worth over ₹46,000 crore to the nation and inaugurate the Chenab and Anji bridges, underlining the government’s push to transform connectivity and socio-economic integration in the region.
Meanwhile, Congress leaders continue to urge the Prime Minister to give credit to previous governments for laying the foundation of projects like USBRL, framing it as a shared achievement of India’s democratic and developmental journey.