PM Modi to flag off first Vande Bharat train to Kashmir on April 19

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will flag off the first-ever Vande Bharat Express to Kashmir on April 19 from Katra, marking the completion of the long-awaited Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla railway project. Union Minister Jitendra Singh confirmed this on Sunday, stating that the train service will finally connect Kashmir with the rest of India via rail.

The Vande Bharat Express will initially operate between Katra and Baramulla, as renovation work at the Jammu station is still ongoing. Officials stated that the trial runs for the train on this route have been completed, and the Commissioner of Railway Safety has officially approved the service.

Ahead of the flag-off ceremony, PM Modi will also visit the world’s highest railway bridge over the Chenab River, a major highlight of the 272-km railway project. This ambitious project, which began in 1997, faced repeated delays due to the geological, topographical, and weather-related challenges of the region.

The Jammu-Kashmir railway link includes 38 tunnels, spanning a total of 119 km. Tunnel T-49 is the longest, measuring 12.75 km, making it India’s largest transportation tunnel. Officials stated that once fully operational, the train will significantly improve travel and trade opportunities for the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

Currently, railway services operate in two disconnected segments—one between Sangaldan and Baramulla in Kashmir, and another from Katra to the rest of the nation. The completion of this railway project is expected to boost connectivity, tourism, and economic development in the region.