Train launch marks completion of Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla rail project; world’s highest railway bridge to be inaugurated on the same day.
March 31, 2025: New Delhi – Prime Minister Narendra Modi will flag off the first Vande Bharat Express to Kashmir on April 19, from Katra, Union Minister Jitendra Singh announced on Sunday. This milestone coincides with the completion of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla railway project, a decades-long infrastructural undertaking in Jammu & Kashmir.
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The Vande Bharat Express will operate on the Jammu-Katra-Srinagar route, although its initial services will begin from Katra, due to ongoing renovation work at the Jammu station.
According to railway officials, the 272-km stretch has undergone successful trial runs, and the service has been given the green signal by the Commissioner of Railway Safety. The project, once envisioned in 1997, faced numerous delays because of the region’s challenging terrain and weather conditions.
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🚄 PM to Visit Chenab Bridge
On the same day, PM Modi will also inaugurate the Chenab Bridge, the world’s highest railway arch bridge, towering at 359 metres above the river and 35 metres taller than the Eiffel Tower. Built across a rugged Himalayan gorge, the bridge is considered an engineering marvel and part of the 38-tunnel, 927-bridge rail network connecting Kashmir with the rest of India.
“Prime Minister Narendra Modi will arrive in Udhampur on April 19. He will visit the world’s highest railway bridge and flag off the Vande Bharat train from Katra,” said Union Minister Jitendra Singh.
🚆 Major Boost for Connectivity
At present, train connectivity in Kashmir is limited to Sangaldan to Baramulla. The launch of the Vande Bharat Express will extend high-speed, modern train travel directly into the valley, significantly reducing travel time between Jammu and Srinagar.
The completed project includes India’s longest transportation tunnel (Tunnel T-49) at 12.75 km, along with 927 bridges that span a total of 13 km. The government sees the rail link as a critical development step for Kashmir, bringing better integration, faster movement, and increased tourism potential.
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