Jammu, March 31 – Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to flag off Kashmir's first Vande Bharat Express on April 19 from Katra, marking the completion of the 272-kilometre-long Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla railway line. As per agency report, this milestone event will establish a direct rail link to the Kashmir Valley, fulfilling a long-standing demand of the region.
The Jammu-Katra-Srinagar Vande Bharat Express will initially operate from Katra, as renovation work is currently underway at Jammu railway station. The railway connectivity project, completed last month, received approval from the Commissioner of Railway Safety in January for operations between Katra and Kashmir.
The high-speed train is expected to significantly reduce travel time between Jammu and Srinagar, offering modern and efficient rail service to the region. Union Minister Jitendra Singh announced on Sunday that Prime Minister Modi will also inaugurate the world’s highest railway bridge, the iconic Chenab Bridge, during his visit to Udhampur.
Currently, train services operate only between Sangaldan and Baramulla in the Valley and from Katra to various destinations across India. The Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla railway line project began in 1997 but faced delays due to complex geological, geographical, and weather-related challenges.
The project comprises 38 tunnels spanning 119 kilometres in total, with the longest being the T-49 tunnel at 12.75 kilometres—India’s longest transport tunnel. Additionally, the railway line includes 927 bridges covering a total length of 13 kilometres. Among these is the Chenab Bridge, measuring 1,315 metres in length with an arch of 467 metres. Towering 359 metres above the riverbed, it stands 35 metres taller than the Eiffel Tower, making it the world’s highest arch railway bridge.
