Unlocking Connectivity: PM Modi Launches Srinagar–Katra Vande Bharat Train on June 6 to Enhance Kashmir Valley’s Rail Network!

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch two Vande Bharat Express trains between Srinagar and Katra on June 6. This event celebrates the completion of the Udhampur–Srinagar–Baramulla Rail Line (USBRL), a project that connects the Kashmir Valley to the rest of India, as reported by Financial Express.

The USBRL covers 272 kilometers and includes remarkable structures like the world’s highest railway bridge and India’s longest railway tunnel, Tunnel T-50, which stretches nearly 13 kilometers. The last part of the rail line, from Katra to Banihal, opened for passengers in January 2025. Initial plans for the inauguration in April were postponed due to bad weather and a recent terror attack in Pahalgam.

For now, Vande Bharat trains will run only between Srinagar and Katra. Direct trains from Jammu to Srinagar remain unavailable as construction at the Jammu Railway Yard is ongoing. Passengers will need to transfer at Katra until the infrastructure is ready, which is expected to be complete by September.

The project’s importance is highlighted by its hefty price tag of over Rs 43,000 crore, with Rs 35,000 crore spent on the Katra–Banihal stretch alone. In addition, the newly formed Jammu Division of Indian Railways, which is India’s 70th division, will manage USBRL operations. This division, based in Jammu Tawi, has been created to improve efficiency and was separated from the historic Firozpur Division.

The USBRL was first proposed in 1983 and was declared a national project in 2002 by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. This project shows the commitment to develop infrastructure in challenging regions, making travel easier for thousands of people.

According to the Ministry of Railways, completion of the USBRL project is expected to boost tourism and trade in the region. It’s a significant step towards integrating Kashmir more closely with the rest of India.

For further details on Indian Railways and ongoing developments, you can check the government’s official website.



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