Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to flag off the first Vande Bharat train to Kashmir on April 19 from Katra, a historic milestone marking the completion of the 272-kilometre Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL).

Union Minister Jitendra Singh announced the event on Sunday, highlighting its significance for Jammu and Kashmir’s connectivity. The train, initially operating from Katra due to ongoing renovations at Jammu railway station, promises to transform travel in the region.

The USBRL project, completed last month after decades of effort, overcame formidable geological and climatic hurdles since its inception in 1997. Trial runs on the Katra-Baramulla route succeeded, with the Commissioner of Railway Safety granting approval in January.

The Vande Bharat Express, known for its speed and modern amenities, is expected to slash travel time between Jammu and Srinagar, offering a reliable alternative to road journeys often disrupted by weather.

Singh told reporters in Jammu, “PM Modi will arrive in Udhampur on April 19 to visit the world’s highest railway bridge, the Chenab Bridge, and inaugurate it before flagging off the train from Katra.” This launch fulfills a decades-long demand for direct rail access to Kashmir, where services currently run only between Sangaldan and Baramulla or from Katra to other parts of India.

Spanning 38 tunnels totaling 119 kilometers—including the 12.75-kilometer Tunnel T-49, India’s longest transportation tunnel—the project also features 927 bridges stretching 13 kilometers.

The Chenab Bridge, an engineering marvel, stands 359 meters above the riverbed, surpassing the Eiffel Tower by 35 meters with its 467-meter arch span and 1,315-meter length. As the world’s tallest arch railway bridge, it symbolizes India’s infrastructural ambition, connecting Kashmir to the nation’s rail network and boosting tourism and trade.