Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday flagged off the first-ever Vande Bharat Express connecting Jammu and Kashmir, marking a historic moment in India’s railway history. The train service, which is part of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project, now enables travel from Katra to Srinagar in just 3 hours, significantly reducing the previous travel time of 6–7 hours by road.
The new Vande Bharat Express service is set to begin commercial operations from Saturday, establishing the first rail link between the Kashmir Valley and the rest of India. The development is a major milestone in overcoming the region’s tough terrain and challenging geography, which had long hindered direct rail connectivity.
Flagged off amid chants of “Jai Shera Wali Da” and “Bharat Mata Ki Jai,” the Vande Bharat train symbolizes not only a leap in connectivity but also a renewed push towards normalcy and tourism revival in Kashmir following the devastating Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, 2025, which claimed 26 lives.
The fare for the Katra-Srinagar route is fixed at Rs 715 for the chair car and Rs 1,350 for the executive class.
“This is not just a train but a testament to the transformation of Kashmir’s infrastructure over the last 11 years,” said Railway spokesperson Dilip Kumar. “It’s an all-weather marvel built using cutting-edge technology.”
For the first time, two Vande Bharat trains have been flagged off simultaneously—one from Katra and another from Srinagar—both launched by Prime Minister Modi, underlining the government’s commitment to regional integration.
In addition to the train launch, PM Modi inaugurated two major engineering achievements—
- The Chenab Rail Bridge, the world’s highest railway arch bridge, standing 359 metres above the riverbed, making it taller than the Eiffel Tower. Spanning 1,315 metres, the bridge is part of the USBRL and is engineered to endure high wind speeds (up to 260 km/h) and seismic activity.
- The Anji Khad Bridge, India’s first cable-stayed railway bridge, located about 80 km from Jammu, constructed by Hindustan Construction Company, which connects a vital stretch over the Anji River.
The entire 271-km-long USBRL project features 36 tunnels and 943 bridges and has been completed at a cost of Rs 43,780 crore. Trial runs over the Chenab Bridge included participation by army and security personnel to ensure stability, safety, and resistance to environmental stressors.
With this new railway line, Kashmir is now fully connected by rail to the Indian mainland for the first time, a move expected to boost tourism, economic activity, and national integration. Locals and business owners in Srinagar are hopeful that the new connectivity will bring back tourists and revitalize the region’s economy.
The launch of the Vande Bharat Express to Kashmir stands as a transformative step in India’s infrastructure journey, redefining travel, connectivity, and development in the region.
