JAMMU, June 6 -- Union railways minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Thursday said that a direct Vande Bharat train from Jammu to Srinagar may start from September this year when new platforms were expected to come up at Jammu railway station. On a visit to world's highest railway arch bridge in Reasi and Katra to oversee the arrangements for the inauguration of USBRL project, Vaishnaw said that Friday will be the historic day as PM Modi will dedicate the Katra-Srinagar-Baramulla rail track to the nation. The PM will also inaugurate an arch rail bridge over Chenab river and country's first cable-stayed rail bridge over Anji river, he informed. "Rail connectivity to Kashmir, a long cherished dream, will become a reality with first Vande Bharat being flagged off by the PM tomorrow from Katra," he said The railways minister also said that the pilgrims of the Vaishno Devi will also be benefited immensely. Vaishnaw informed that bridging facilities for normal altitude trains and high altitude trains will be made at Jammu railway station. "Both trains (normal altitude and high altitude) will arrive on either side of the platform for quick disembarkation and embarkation," he said. "When platform number 5 and 6 come up at Jammu railway station, the Vande Bharat train will run between Jammu and Srinagar. For now, it will run between Katra and Srinagar," he said Earlier, chief minister Omar Abdullah said that the rail project to Kashmir was started when he was a class 7 or 8 student."Today, my children have completed their education and are working. Now, the PM will finally flag off the train to Kashmir. It's better late than never," said Omar. The CM said that the train to Kashmir will benefit all. "Following closure of the Jammu-Srinagar national highway due to inclement weather, airlines fleece us. A ticket that usually costs Rs 5,000 goes up to Rs 20,000. This train connectivity will bring an end to it," he said. Omar also said that the horticulture produce from Kashmir will now be sent efficiently to markets outside. Union minister Dr Jitendra Singh attributed the completion of the Kashmir rail project to PM Modi's vision of 'Viksit Bharat'. "This rail connectivity will ensure ease of travel, business and commerce. Passengers will reach Srinagar in three hours from Katra. With this rail connectivity, a good tourist circuit on the lines of Himachal Pradesh and northeast can be thought about," he said. Dr Singh further said that the train connectivity to Kashmir will lessen the burden on Jammu-Srinagar national highway. "The train connectivity will be safe, secure and efficient. A new chapter is going to start tomorrow with the flag off Vande Bharat train," he added. The project worth Rs 43,780 crore, connecting Kashmir to Kanyakumari is an engineering marvel. Earlier, Vaishnaw visited the Jammu Railway Station to inspect the ongoing development works, as part of preparations for the launch of train services to Kashmir. A multi-tier security set-up has been put in place for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Jammu and Kashmir on Friday to inaugurate the much-awaited Kashmir rail link and also dedicate to the nation multiple development projects worth over Rs.46,000 crore in Katra, officials said on Thursday. This will be the first visit of the PM to the Union territory after Operation Sindoor was launched by the Indian Armed Forces in retaliation to the Pahalgam terror attack that left 26 people , mostly tourists, dead on April 22. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has outlined vision and key projects worth Rs.46,000 crores for enhanced connectivity in Jammu and Kashmir, marking a historic milestone in the region's connectivity. Ahead of Prime Minister Modi's visit to Katra, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah reviewed the arrangements at the iconic Chenab Bridge, the tallest railway bridge in the world. Modi mentioned that Chenab rail bridge will improve connectivity between Jammu and Srinagar. He has also highlighted that the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project will ensure all weather connectivity and and the introduction of Vande Bharat trains between Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra and Srinagar will boost spiritual tourism and generate employment.Responding to the X thread posts of J&K CM, the Prime Minister said: "Tomorrow, 6th June is indeed a special day for my sisters and brothers of Jammu and Kashmir. Key infrastructure projects worth Rs 46,000 crore are being inaugurated which will have a very positive impact on people's lives". The arch bridge, an engineering marvel, soars 359 metres above the riverbed and is 35 metres higher than the Eiffel tower. Last year, Railways officials had hoped that trains to Kashmir including 'Vande Bharat' may start chugging on the 272 km Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla rail link (USBRL) project by January this year. 30,000 tons of steel has gone into the bridge. The work on the USBRL project started in 2005-06. The bridge can also withstand strong winds up to the speed of 266 km per hour. The bridge has come up at a cost of Rs 1548 crore....