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NEW DELHI: Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh on tuesday described the Chenab Railway Bridge as a landmark monument and at the same time an economic game changer for India in general and for the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir in particular. and also a significant contributor to India’s overall economic growth, in an interview to a leading media agency.
In an interview to a leading media agency, the Minister described the bridge as an engineering marvel and a monument of India’s technological prowess.
The bridge, part of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project, is set to be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 6th of June.
Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology, Minister of State for Prime Minister’s Office, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr. Jitendra Singh said “A rail connectivity to the Valley will transform the lives of people, promote employment, boost trade, and add substantial economic value. The Chenab Bridge will be a cornerstone of the J&K growth story and play a vital role in India’s economic journey.”
The railway line project is expected to connect Anantnag, Pulwama, Shopian, Budgam, Srinagar, and Baramulla districts to the national railway grid, thereby ensuring all-weather connectivity and integrating the region more deeply with the rest of the country.
Dr. Jitendra Singh highlighted that the Chenab Bridge, the world’s highest railway bridge, is not only an infrastructural feat but also an engineering marvel that will attract tourists, engineering professionals, and scholars from around the world.
“It is much more than a connectivity project. It is an architectural landmark that reflects the technological prowess of India,” he remarked.
The Minister credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the bridge’s timely completion, noting that the project saw no progress until 2014. It was only after the direct intervention and prioritization by the Prime Minister that key infrastructure projects in the region were expedited and completed.
Responding to questions on Operation Sindoor, Dr. Jitendra Singh said that India gave a befitting reply to its adversaries and sent a clear message on its defence resolve. He also took a firm stance against those who doubted India’s economic resilience.
“Contrary to the skepticism voiced by so-called intellectuals, India’s economy rose to the 4th largest in the world from 5th post Operation Sindoor. This shows India’s economic fundamentals are stronger than ever,” Dr. Singh asserted.
Dr. Jitendra Singh underscored the significance of administrative reforms carried out under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which have had a transformative impact on governance and socio-economic delivery over the past 11 years.
He recalled that one of the earliest reforms was the abolition of the attestation requirement by a gazetted officer, replacing it with self-attestation, thereby building trust in citizens and reducing red tape.
He praised the performance of CPGRAMS, calling it a model for neighboring countries in grievance redressal. He stated that In the pre-2014 period, only around 2 lakh public grievances were recorded annually.
However, today, the number has significantly increased to nearly 25 lakh grievances registered each year, reflecting greater accessibility and public trust in the system. Notably, the average resolution time has improved remarkably to just 12-13 days, with many grievances being addressed and resolved within a week.
Highlighting people-centric reforms, Dr. Singh noted that the introduction of Digital Life Certificates using facial recognition has greatly eased the lives of elderly pensioners. The Department of Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare was among the first to roll out this technology.
He also emphasized several key initiatives aimed at ensuring justice and dignity for pensioners and their families. These include resolving pension-related grievances through dedicated Pension Adalats, granting pensions to divorced and widowed daughters of pensioners, and addressing long-pending cases to deliver long-overdue pension justice.
These measures, he said, go beyond economic reforms and represent a social justice framework that touches the lives of the most vulnerable.
In closing, Dr. Singh stated that the pace and scale of development in the last 11 years under PM Modi can clearly be distinguished from the pre-2014 period. He affirmed “Prime Minister Modi has laid out a clear roadmap for Viksit Bharat @2047. Every day, India is moving closer to its set targets with confidence and commitment.”
