Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to flag off the first-ever Vande Bharat Express to Kashmir on June 6, connecting Katra in Jammu division to Baramulla in the Valley, marking a historic milestone in India’s rail infrastructure and regional integration.
According to officials, all technical and logistical preparations for the launch of the train service have been completed. The train was originally scheduled to be inaugurated on April 19, but the event was postponed due to inclement weather.
This semi-high-speed train is expected to significantly benefit Amarnath Yatra pilgrims, especially during times when the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway is blocked due to landslides or bad weather. The annual pilgrimage is set to commence on July 3 and conclude on August 9, and special trains may be operated during this period to accommodate the surge in passenger traffic.
Prime Minister Modi will flag off the service physically from Katra and virtually from Baramulla. He is also scheduled to visit two engineering marvels — the world’s highest railway bridge over the Chenab River and India’s first cable-stayed railway bridge in Reasi district — both key components of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project.
Initially, the Vande Bharat Express will operate between Katra and Baramulla. Upon completion of expansion work at Jammu Railway Station, including additional platforms, the service will be extended from Jammu to Baramulla, likely by August or September 2025. For now, passengers from Delhi and other parts of India will need to change trains at Katra.
A comprehensive security audit of the rail corridor has also been conducted in the wake of recent terror threats. Following the Pahalgam attack, security infrastructure along the route was significantly bolstered, with increased police presence and surveillance.
The 272-kilometre USBRL project has been rolled out in multiple phases since 2009, with the final 17-km stretch between Reasi and Katra completed earlier this year. A successful trial run of an electric train was conducted on the Katra–Banihal section in January.At a total estimated cost of ₹41,000 crore, the USBRL project includes several major feats of engineering, including the Chenab Bridge and Anji Khad Bridge, both of which have undergone extensive testing in recent months.
The new Vande Bharat train, specially designed for the terrain and weather conditions of Kashmir, will be the third such train in Jammu & Kashmir. It is expected to catalyze growth across multiple sectors — including horticulture, education, tourism, and trade — and enhance mobility for residents of the Valley.
The inauguration will symbolically fulfill a decades-long dream of connecting Kashmir to the rest of India via a robust rail network. Officials hailed this development as a “new dawn” for the region and a step closer to realizing the vision of a rail link from Kashmir to Kanyakumari.
