Srinagar, June 5 -- When Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurates the much-awaited 272km Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project, built at a cost of Rs.43,780 crore, on the eve of Eid on Friday, he will be opening all-weather connectivity between Kashmir and the rest of the country that would be a gamechanger for the Valley's economy, particularly tourism and horticulture. The rail link project, which includes 36 tunnels (spanning 119km) and 943 bridges, is set to transform regional mobility and drive socio-economic integration besides generating jobs for local residents.

The Jammu and Kashmir administration termed it a milestone as Indian Railways will be connected up to Baramulla, the last town in J&K. "This link besides ...