On June 6, 2025, the Hon’ble Prime Minister flagged off two specially designed Vande Bharat trains between Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra and Srinagar, marking a historic milestone for Jammu & Kashmir. This development—part of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project—promises a transformational impact on the region’s development, trade, tourism, and overall integration with the rest of India.

A Dream Nearly Three Decades in the Making
The USBRL project was first approved in March 1995 with an estimated cost of ₹2,500 crore. Declared a national project in 2002, it took decades of dedication and innovation to complete. Now fully operational, the 272-km stretch has been completed at a cost of ₹43,780 crore, featuring 36 tunnels and 943 bridges. Among its engineering marvels:
The Chenab Bridge in Reasi, the world's highest railway arch bridge (359m above riverbed)
India’s first cable-stayed railway bridge at Anji Khad
The country’s longest transport tunnel, 12.77 km in Ramban
The Vande Bharat Express now covers the journey between Katra and Srinagar in just three hours, significantly faster and more reliable than road travel, especially in harsh winters.

More Than Just a Train: A Lifeline

The importance of this railway cannot be overstated. It ensures all-weather, year-round connectivity to the Valley, ending decades of isolation caused by the frequent closure of the Jammu-Srinagar highway due to snowfall, landslides, or poor weather. This had often led to:
Skyrocketing prices of essential commodities
Hoarding and black marketing by traders
Scarcity of life-saving drugs and surgical items
Inaccessible education and exam centers for students
Exorbitant airfares, making travel impossible for many
Even after the Darbar Move practice was abolished, some administrative offices still operate from Jammu during winters, leaving citizens struggling to get basic work done. The Vande Bharat service is a game-changer in this context, offering fast, reliable, and affordable transport for patients, students, professionals, and traders alike.

A Boost for Economy, Education, and Unity

This new rail link opens up vast possibilities. Within days of the launch, a cherry-laden express left Katra for Mumbai, and a shipment even reached Saudi Arabia, signaling new export potential for Kashmir’s fruits and handicrafts.
Furthermore, the connectivity is expected to:
Lower the cost of transporting goods into and out of the Valley
Encourage educational mobility and career exploration
Promote cultural integration and national unity
Parents who once hesitated to send their children outside Kashmir due to unpredictable roads are now filled with hope. For students, especially those attending exams and colleges outside the Valley, travel will no longer be a gamble.

A Bright Journey Ahead

All tickets for the first 15 days after the inauguration were sold out, reflecting public enthusiasm. In this scorching summer, as tourists flock to Kashmir for respite, the Vande Bharat is not just a train—it is a symbol of relief, opportunity, and transformation.
It connects the North Pole of India to its South, bringing Kashmir closer to Kanyakumari—a long-awaited dream, now made real.

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