In a historic boost to Jammu and Kashmir’s connectivity, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday flagged off two Vande Bharat Express trains from Katra to Srinagar, marking the first direct rail link between the Jammu and Kashmir divisions. This development significantly cuts down travel time and strengthens integration with the rest of the country.
The new Vande Bharat service will reduce the travel time between Katra and Srinagar from the current 6–7 hours by road to just about 3 hours. These trains, equipped to operate in the harsh winter conditions of the Kashmir Valley, offer a fast, comfortable, and reliable option for residents, pilgrims, and tourists alike.
Before the flag-off ceremony, PM Modi interacted with school children and railway staff aboard the train, celebrating the momentous occasion with warmth and enthusiasm.
The Vande Bharat trains will pass through two engineering marvels — the Chenab Rail Bridge, the highest railway arch bridge in the world, and Anji Khad Bridge, India’s first cable-stayed rail bridge. Both were inaugurated earlier in the day by the Prime Minister in Reasi district.
Standing 359 metres above the riverbed, the Chenab Bridge is part of the Katra-to-Sangaldan stretch of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Railway Link (USBRL) project, connecting Kashmir with New Delhi by rail for the first time. PM Modi also waved the Indian national flag, the Tiranga, on the bridge deck in a symbolic gesture of national unity.
The USBRL project, constructed at a cost of ₹43,780 crore, spans 272 km and includes 36 tunnels (covering 119 km) and 943 bridges. It aims to establish all-weather, seamless rail connectivity between the Kashmir Valley and the rest of India, overcoming complex geographical and seismic challenges.
Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, and Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw accompanied the Prime Minister during the landmark inaugurations.
The USBRL and Vande Bharat rollouts represent a transformative chapter in India’s infrastructure development, poised to drive economic growth, improve mobility, and promote deeper socio-economic integration in the region.
