Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the first-ever Vande Bharat train service to the Kashmir Valley on June 6, marking a historic milestone in Indian Railways’ efforts to connect the region via high-speed rail. As per official sources, the Prime Minister will virtually flag off the service from Katra, situated in the Jammu region, instead of travelling to Srinagar as initially planned.

The inaugural event comes after multiple postponements. The 272-km Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL), a project aimed at integrating Kashmir with the Indian railway network, was originally slated for inauguration on April 19. However, adverse weather conditions followed by a terrorist attack in Pahalgam on April 22 forced delays. Prior to the incident, Mr. Modi was scheduled to personally visit Srinagar for the launch.

Railway officials confirmed that the Vande Bharat Express will significantly cut down the travel time between Katra and Srinagar to just three hours. Currently, the road journey between the two destinations takes approximately six to seven hours. With the completion of the crucial Sangaldan-Katra section, full railway connectivity from Baramulla in North Kashmir to Katra has been established, enabling seamless operations across the route.

The new Vande Bharat trains are specially designed for the region’s harsh climatic conditions. They are equipped with advanced heating systems, including heated windshields for the driver’s cabin to maintain visibility during snowfall and sub-zero temperatures, ensuring smooth functioning in extreme weather.

Sources indicate that two trains will be flagged off—one in each direction between Srinagar and Katra. The new route will also showcase engineering feats such as the world-renowned Chenab Bridge, which soars 359 meters above the riverbed and stands as the highest railway bridge globally. The train will also cross the Anji Khad Bridge, India’s first cable-stayed railway bridge, which spans 725 meters and is supported by 96 cables.

The USBRL project, estimated at over ₹40,000 crore, is among India’s most ambitious infrastructure undertakings. Construction began in 1997, and the project faced numerous delays due to the region’s challenging terrain. Over 90% of the track runs through 943 bridges and 36 main tunnels, including Tunnel T-50, India’s longest railway tunnel at 12.7 km.

Sections of the line were commissioned in phases: Baramulla to Qazigund in 2009, Banihal to Qazigund in 2013, and Udhampur to Katra in 2014. The most difficult stretch—Sangaldan to Katra—has now been completed, cementing full connectivity between the Jammu region and the Kashmir Valley.

This launch marks a transformative moment for the region, promising improved connectivity, economic growth, and ease of travel for residents and tourists alike.

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