SRINAGAR: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will flag off the first train to Kashmir from Katra on April 19, marking the completion of the long-awaited railway link to the Valley. The event, set to take place in the presence of Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, Union Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office Dr Jitendra Singh, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, and former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, will fulfil a decades-old aspiration for direct train connectivity to Kashmir.
With trial runs successfully completed and all necessary clearances obtained, Modi gave his approval today for the historic launch. Officials confirmed that he will land at the Udhampur Army airport in the morning before flying to the Chenab Bridge in Reasi, the world’s highest railway bridge, where he will inspect the engineering marvel. Afterward, he will proceed to Katra to inaugurate the train service and address a public gathering before returning to New Delhi.
Initially, the train will operate between Katra and Baramulla, with plans to extend services from Jammu once expansion work at Jammu Railway Station is completed, likely by July or August. However, for now, passengers from across the country will need to change trains at Katra to reach Kashmir.
Security arrangements for the launch have been meticulously reviewed, with Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan recently assessing preparedness alongside top railway officials. The Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project, spanning 272 kilometres, has been commissioned in phases since 2009, with the final 17-kilometre stretch between Reasi and Katra completed three months ago.
The Valley will also receive a specially designed Vande Bharat Express train with anti-freezing features, capable of operating in temperatures as low as -20 degrees Celsius. Equipped with CCTV cameras, emergency communication systems, and shatterproof windows, the train will ensure both passenger comfort and security.
