Before the historic launch of the Vande Bharat train to Kashmir from the holy town of Katra, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to embark on a symbolic journey across two of India’s greatest railway engineering marvels on April 19. The Prime Minister will travel from the Chenab Railway Bridge — the world’s highest railway bridge — to Katra by train, where he will inaugurate the much-awaited rail service to the Kashmir Valley.
Official sources confirmed that Modi will land at the Udhampur airport before proceeding to the Chenab Bridge, which stands 1,178 feet above the riverbed — 82 feet taller than the Eiffel Tower. After inspecting the bridge, the Prime Minister will travel by train from Chenab Bridge to Katra. En route, he will also inaugurate and inspect the Anji Khad Bridge — India’s first cable-stayed railway bridge, another landmark achievement in railway infrastructure.
At Katra, the Prime Minister will flag off the inaugural Vande Bharat train to Baramulla. Simultaneously, he will virtually inaugurate the return train from Baramulla to Katra. The event will mark the beginning of direct rail connectivity to Kashmir, ending a wait of several decades.
In a touching gesture, the Railway Ministry has invited numerous workers — including retired personnel — who were part of the formidable Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project, to be part of the inaugural ride. These individuals played key roles in constructing one of the most challenging railway projects in the country’s history.
After flagging off the train, Prime Minister Modi is scheduled to address a public rally in Katra — his second in the town within seven months. A special half-hour cultural programme by school children will be held at Katra railway station, showcasing national unity with the message: “Kashmir to Kanyakumari, India is one.”
Currently, trains operate only between Sangaldan and Baramulla and from across the country to Katra. Initially, the Vande Bharat will operate between Katra and Baramulla, but once expansion works at Jammu Railway Station are complete, the train is expected to run from Jammu to the Valley by August.
Security has been a key concern, and Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan recently visited Katra to review preparations. Multiple successful trials of the Vande Bharat have already been conducted on the route.
The 272-kilometer USBRL project has been completed in phases over the years, with the final 17-kilometer Reasi-Katra stretch completed recently. The project, estimated to have cost ₹41,000 crore, stands as a monumental step in integrating Jammu & Kashmir with the rest of the nation through modern rail connectivity.
