After PM Modi’s inauguration, Katra-Srinagar Vande Bharat sees booking rush, tickets full for 10 days

Just days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Katra-Srinagar Vande Bharat Express, all seats on the route are fully booked for the next 10 days, reflecting overwhelming public enthusiasm. This new railway connection, considered a historic step in integrating the Kashmir Valley with the rest of India, has generated an unprecedented rush of passengers wanting to experience the ride across the Chenab Bridge — the tallest railway bridge in the world — and the breathtaking tunnels through the Himalayas.

The Rs 43,000 crore rail project, completed after over four decades of effort, has eliminated Kashmir’s near-complete dependence on the Srinagar-Jammu highway, which often remains shut due to adverse weather. Now, even snow and rain will not cut off the Valley from the rest of India. Though passengers still need to change trains at Katra to reach Delhi, the connection itself is being hailed as a symbolic and practical breakthrough for the region.

Since formal operations began a day after the inauguration, demand has far exceeded expectations. Officials say both trains running between Katra and Srinagar are insufficient to handle the current rush, with waiting lists growing daily. For many, the scenic three-hour journey is not just travel, but a national milestone.