Page 32 - NIS English 01-15 July,2025

NATION | Rail Connectivity

Operation Sindoor

The power of self-reliant India

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said how Operation
Sindoor has shown the power of self-reliant India. This is
the reason why today the world is discussing India’s defence
ecosystem. There is only one reason behind this: the country’s
army’s faith in ‘Make in India’.

n What the army has done, now every Indian has
to repeat it. The government announced Mission Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Railway Line
Manufacturing in the budget. Under this mission, Project…is not just a name…it is the identity
the government is working to give new flight to of the new power of Jammu and Kashmir…it
manufacturing.
is the proclamation of the new power of India.
n In the last 10 years, India has become a major
defence exporter. Now the goal is to include - Narendra Modi, Prime Minister
India’s name among the top defence exporters of
the world. The faster the country moves towards Udhampur-Srinagar-
this goal, the faster employment opportunities will Baramulla Rail Link Project
be created in India. The Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link

n The central government considers the people is one of the most ambitious rail projects
living on the border as the front line protectors undertaken in independent India. This project,
of the country. This is the reason why which has written a new story of socio-
unprecedented efforts have been made economic development in Jammu and
in the last decade to strengthen Kashmir, is a testament to engineering
development and security in the and human determination to
border districts. overcome nature, but more than
that, it is a speaking example of
n Nearly 10,000 new bunkers political will. This project, spread
have been constructed in the over 272 km in the rugged hills
region, which played a vital role in of the Himalayas, has been built
saving lives after Operation Sindoor. at a cost of Rs 43,780 crore. It
Defence capabilities have been includes 36 tunnels spanning 119 km
n
strengthened by the creation of two new border and 943 bridges connecting valleys, peaks
battalions for the Jammu and Kashmir division as and mountain passes.
well as two dedicated women battalions.
Billions of rupees are being invested in the
n
development of the international border area and
challenging terrains. Development initiatives in
border villages have been accelerated under the
Vibrant Village Program.
400 villages in Jammu and Kashmir were earlier
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deprived of connectivity in bad weather; now
1,800 km of new roads have been built for those
villages. This has made life easier.

30 NEW INDIA SAMACHAR || July 1-15, 2025