Srinagar: After years of relentless effort and engineering marvels, the dream of rail connectivity in Kashmir came to fruition as the specially-designed Vande Bharat Express reached Srinagar on Saturday during its successful trial run.
The train, designed to tackle Jammu and Kashmir’s tough winter conditions, arrived at Srinagar station in the Nowgam area from Katra, completing the milestone journey. It had earlier reached Jammu on Friday.
A jubilant crowd of locals and railway officials greeted the train’s arrival at 11:30 am with cheers, slogans, and garlands, celebrating this landmark achievement for Indian Railways.
Following a brief halt in Srinagar, the train continued its trial run to the Budgam station, with officials confirming its smooth operation along the route.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to officially flag off the train, marking the beginning of operations on the Katra-Baramulla section. The date for this grand ceremony is yet to be announced, but the train has already received safety clearance from the commissioner of railway safety.
This milestone is part of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project, which has completed 272 kilometers, paving the way for improved connectivity and economic growth in the region.
