The long-awaited rail connectivity to Kashmir will finally become a reality on April 19, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi flags off the first train to the Valley from Katra. The inaugural event will be attended by Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, Union MoS PMO Dr. Jitendra Singh, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. The train will initially run between Katra and Baramulla, with plans to extend the service from Jammu once the station’s expansion is completed by July-August.
Ahead of the launch, security and operational assessments have been carried out, with multiple successful trial runs, including those of the Vande Bharat train. The 272-km Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project, which cost ₹41,000 crore, has been completed in phases, reported news agency Kashmir Dot Com.
The final 17-km stretch between Reasi and Katra was finished recently, enabling the full connectivity of the region. PM Modi is also expected to visit the Chenab Bridge, the world’s highest railway bridge, before inaugurating the service.