Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the Vande Bharat Express to Kashmir on June 6, from Jammu, following the completion of the 272-km Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla rail link project.
Modi will flag off the Vande Bharat Express from Shri Mata Vaishno Devi (SMVD) railway station in Katra, Jammu, to Baramulla in north Kashmir. On the same day, he will also flag off another service from Baramulla back to Katra.
While trains have been operational between Banihal and Baramulla in the Kashmir Valley, and between Jammu, Udhampur and Katra in the Jammu region, the 111-km Katra-Banihal section proved the most challenging to construct due to the difficult terrain.
Modi is also scheduled to inaugurate two significant infrastructure landmarks — the world's tallest railway arch bridge over the Chenab River and India’s first cable-stayed railway bridge, the Anji Khad bridge.
The development marks a historic milestone, ending over seven decades of waiting for direct train connectivity to Kashmir. Until now, train services have operated only between Sangaldan and Baramulla in the Valley, and from Katra to other parts of the country.
The Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project was first sanctioned in 1995 by then prime minister P.V. Narasimha Rao, at an estimated cost of ₹2,500 crore.
Although work on the project began in 1997, it progressed in phases and faced repeated delays due to the region’s complex topography. The project gained renewed momentum in 2002 after then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee declared it a national initiative.
The 111-km Banihal-Katra section comprises 97 km of tunnels and 7 km of bridges. Among them is the Chenab Bridge — the tallest railway arch bridge in the world, rising 359 metres above mean sea level.
The Vande Bharat Express will also cross the Anji Khad Bridge, India’s first cable-stayed railway bridge, supported by 96 cables and spanning 725 metres, standing 331 metres above sea level.
The project, with an estimated cost of ₹43,000 crore, involved the construction of 943 bridges and 36 main tunnels, including India’s longest railway tunnel, T-50, which stretches over 12.7 km.
Initially, only one Vande Bharat Express will operate on the Katra-Baramulla route. Based on public demand and logistics, more services may be introduced later.
A direct train service from Delhi to Srinagar was initially expected. However, due to weather and security considerations, passengers will need to disembark at Katra and board another train to complete the journey to Kashmir.
From February 2026, passengers travelling between Delhi and Srinagar can book a single ticket with a mandatory transfer at Katra. All passengers and their luggage will undergo stringent security screening at both departure and transfer points. Train services on the Kashmir route will operate only during daylight hours, with no evening services scheduled.
The Kashmir-specific Vande Bharat Express is equipped with customised features to cope with extreme cold, including advanced heating systems and heated windshields for the driver to ensure clear visibility during snow and frost conditions.
The full commissioning of the USBRL project and the introduction of Vande Bharat services will significantly improve connectivity between Kashmir and the rest of the country, while also promoting economic growth and tourism.
(By arrangement with livemint.com)
