Prime Minister Narendra Modi is anticipated to inaugurate train services to Kashmir from Katra, the base camp for the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Ji shrine, in the first week of June, most likely on June 6. This launch will enable the Vande Bharat train to commence operations between Katra and Baramulla.
Officials have confirmed that preparations for the train service launch are being finalized, with June 6 eyed as the probable date for the Prime Minister to flag off the inaugural train to the Valley. The launch was initially slated for April 19 but was postponed due to unfavorable weather predictions. Further delays were caused by the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack and the subsequent “Operation Sindoor,” which involved Indian Armed Forces strikes in Pakistan and Pakistan Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) from May 7-10.
The new rail link is expected to be beneficial for the upcoming annual Shri Amarnath Ji pilgrimage, which is scheduled from July 3 to August 9. This is particularly relevant given forecasts of an early and heavy monsoon season, which could lead to blockades on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, especially along the vulnerable Ramban and Banihal stretch. Officials stated that the rail track opening could facilitate the movement of Shri Amarnath Ji pilgrims from Katra to Srinagar, and special trains could be deployed to manage pilgrim rush, especially if the highway is blocked.
Initially, only the Vande Bharat train is expected to operate between Katra and Baramulla. The Prime Minister will flag off the train from Katra to Baramulla and virtually from Baramulla to Katra, and will also address a rally at Katra Stadium. Before the flagging-off ceremony, Modi is likely to visit the world’s highest rail bridge over the Chenab river and the first Cable Stayed bridge on the railway track, both located in Reasi district.
Sources indicate that the train will initially run between Katra and Baramulla. However, once expansion work at Jammu Railway Station, including an increase in platform numbers, is completed, the train services to the Valley are expected to commence from Jammu, likely in August-September. There will be no direct train services from Delhi or other parts of India to Kashmir at present; passengers will need to de-board at Katra and change trains. This process will later shift to Jammu.
Multiple trials of the train from Katra to Baramulla, including the Vande Bharat, have been successful. During “Operation Sindoor,” a train carrying Army personnel also operated on the track up to Srinagar. A fresh security audit of the track was conducted after the Pahalgam terror attack, and all identified issues have been addressed with increased police deployment and strengthened infrastructure.
The Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project spans a total of 272 kilometers. Of this, 209 kilometers have been commissioned in phases: the 118-kilometer Qazigund-Baramulla section in October 2009, the 18-kilometer Banihal-Qazigund in June 2013, the 25-kilometer Udhampur-Katra in July 2014, and the 48.1-kilometer Banihal-Sangaldan stretch in February of last year. The 46-kilometer Sangaldan-Reasi section was completed in June last year, leaving a 17-kilometer stretch between Reasi and Katra, which was finished approximately three months ago, leading to the initiation of various train trials, including that of the Vande Bharat. The project incurred a cost of Rs 41,000 crore.
On January 4, a successful trial run of an electric train was conducted on the Katra-Banihal section. Over the past few months, the Railways have conducted a series of trials on various segments of the track, including the significant Anji Khad and Chenab bridges. Kashmir is set to receive a new, specially designed Vande Bharat Express Train, which will connect Katra and Srinagar, marking the third such train in Jammu and Kashmir.
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