Today in Politics: PM Modi to inaugurate world’s highest railway arch bridge in J&K

A PMO statement said Modi will launch multiple development projects worth over Rs 46,000 crore at Katra, the base camp for pilgrims visiting the Mata Vaishno Devi temple.

Lauding the Chenab bridge as an architectural marvel, the statement noted that it is at a height of 359 metres above the river. It is a 1,315-metre-long steel arch bridge engineered to withstand seismic and wind conditions. “A key impact of the bridge will be in enhancing connectivity between Jammu and Srinagar. Through Vande Bharat train moving on the bridge, it will take just about three hours to travel between Katra and Srinagar, reducing existing travel time by two-three hours,” it said, stressing Modi’s commitment to boosting infra and connectivity in the region.

The PM will also inaugurate the Anji Bridge, which is India’s first cable-stayed rail bridge that will serve the nation in a challenging terrain, it added.

Among the other projects to be launched is the 272-km Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project.

In a major boost to last mile connectivity especially in border areas, Modi will lay the foundation stone and inaugurate various road projects, the statement said.

The prime minister will also lay the foundation stone of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence in Katra worth over Rs 350 crore. It will be the first medical college in Reasi district contributing substantially to the healthcare infrastructure in the region, it said.

Centre may launch Waqf portal

The Centre is likely to launch the ‘Umeed’ portal on Friday with the aim of promoting better management and enhanced transparency of Waqf properties across the country, sources said. The portal, which stands for ‘Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency, and Development’, will serve as a centralised platform for registering Waqf properties nationwide, sources added.

As per the plan, all Waqf properties must be registered on the portal within six months of its launch. Detailed descriptions, including length, width, and geotagged locations of the properties, will be mandatory. Properties registered under the names of women will not be eligible to be declared as Waqf. The primary beneficiaries of Waqf assets will include women, children, and economically weaker sections of society.

Several petitions challenging the Waqf Act are currently pending before the Supreme Court. The Centre has urged the court to dismiss these petitions, maintaining that the law does not violate constitutional guarantees.

Rahul to address Samvidhan Sammelan in Bihar

Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi will visit Bihar on Friday. The Congress MP will start his trip with a visit to the Dashrath Majhi Memorial and will meet his family members at Gaya.

He will then address a Samvidhan Sammelan at The Rajgir International Convention Centre (RICC) at Rajgir and proceed to the Imperial Dreams in Gaya, where he will address a Mahila Samvad.

Gandhi will also visit the Mahabodhi Vihar in Bodh Gaya.

Lecture series in Maharashtra ITIs to mark Shivaji coronation day

Maharashtra minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha on Wednesday announced that a lecture series will be held across all Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) in the state to mark the coronation day of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj to be celebrated on Friday.

The aim is to instil patriotic values and national consciousness among students, he said. The lecture series will be inaugurated with a video message from Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.

Shivaji Maharaj, the founder of Maratha empire, was crowned as king on the Raigad fort on June 6, 1674.

– With PTI inputs