Prime Minister Narendra Modi is all set to flag off the first-ever Vande Bharat Express to Kashmir on April 19, marking a major milestone in the history of Indian Railways. As the Jammu railway station is currently being renovated, the train will leave from Katra, as per the officials.
Boost for Jammu and Kashmir railway network
The launch of the Jammu-Katra-Srinagar Vande Bharat Express is slated to take place after the successful completion of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla rail link spreading 272 kilometers. The trial runs on the Katra-Baramulla stretch have been concluded, and the Commissioner of Railway Safety approved the route at the beginning of this year, as officials stated to PTI.
This new service is expected to lessen the travel time significantly between Jammu and Srinagar. For the first time, it will also provide modern and high-speed connectivity to the region.
Union Minister Jitendra Singh, while talking to reporters in Jammu on Sunday, 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.’’
Long-awaited demand to be fulfilled
The new line will finally cater to the long-standing demand for a direct train service to the Kashmir Valley. At present, rail services only interlink Sangaldan to Baramulla inside the Valley, whereas Katra is the starting point for trains to other destinations in India.
As per the PTI report, the ambitious project to connect Kashmir through a rail network started in 1997 but was held up for years because of complex terrain, engineering complications, and adverse weather conditions.
The route consists of 38 tunnels and covers a total of 119 km. Among these, Tunnel T-49 is India’s longest transportation tunnel, spanning 12.75 km. This line also features 927 bridges and is laid over 13 km. Among the most famous is the Chenab Bridge, which stands 359 meters above the riverbed. It is the world’s highest railway arch bridge and is taller than the Eiffel Tower by 35 metres.
(With inputs from PTI)