New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will flag-off the first train, connecting the Kashmir Valley to Jammu and the rest of the country on April 19. This will be a Vande Bharat Express
– the first to traverse the Jammu-Baramulla Line that took several decades to complete.
At the moment, trains run between Sangaldan and Baramulla in the Valley. The stretch between Sangaldan and Katra in Jammu was completed in 2024 and received approval from the Commissioner of Railway Safety in January 2025. The Vande Bharat Express will operate between Katra and Baramulla for the time being as Jammu station is under renovation.
This milestone will enhance connectivity and significantly reduce travel time between Jammu and Srinagar. It will also be a tourist attraction, officials believe, as the train will be crossing the Chenab bridge – the highest railway bridge in the world.
Officials confirmed to Hindustan Times that the railway link was completed last month, with successful trial runs on the Katra-Baramulla route.
As per reports, Union Minister Jitendra Singh, speaking in Jammu, stated: “Prime Minister Modi will arrive in Udhampur on April 19. He will visit the world’s highest railway bridge and inaugurate it. After that, he will flag off the Vande Bharat train from Katra.”
The long-awaited project will finally establish direct rail connectivity to Kashmir, addressing a longstanding demand.
The railway project, initiated in 1997, faced multiple delays due to challenging geological, topographical, and meteorological conditions. It comprises 38 tunnels stretching a total of 119 km, with the 12.75 km-long Tunnel T-49 being the country’s longest transportation tunnel.
Additionally, the project features 927 bridges spanning 13 km, including the remarkable Chenab Bridge. With a total length of 1,315 meters, an arch span of 467 meters, and a height of 359 meters above the riverbed, the bridge is 35 meters taller than the Eiffel Tower, making it the world’s highest arch railway bridge.
Officials emphasised that the Vande Bharat Express will offer a modern and efficient rail service, significantly enhancing travel convenience in the region.
