Sources said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is ready to inaugurate Katra-Srinagar Vande Bharat Seva in the first week of June, with sources, with the possibility of being in Shri Vaishno Devi Katra (SVDK) on 6 June.
The event will mark the official opening of the final stretch of 272 km Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL), which is a major milestone in connecting the Kashmir Valley to the rest of India by rail.
Before the launch, PM Modi is expected to visit Chenb Bridge-India’s highest railway bridge-which is before going to Katra to flagged the Wande Bharat Express (Rek-21/2080) between SVDK and Srinagar.
Officers have been directed to complete all arrangements by June 2 and update the personnel’s data, indicating that the final preparation is underway.
The last section of the USBRL project, from Sangaldon to Katra – was the most challenging due to its difficult terrain – now it’s complete.
The project of Rs 37,000 crore has 943 bridges and 36 main tunnels, including the tunnel T -50, India’s longest railway tunnel at 12.7 km.
The Vande will travel in major engineering miracles like Bharat Seva Chenab Bridge, which is 359 meters above sea level, and India’s first cable-sted railway bridge, fig bridge, with 96 supporting cables with 725 meters.
Earlier this month, around 800 Indian Army personnel successfully traveled from Delhi to Srinagar, which, through Katra, showcasing the operation of the full USBRL route.
The project has moved forward in stages for years: Kajigund-Baramulla (2009), Banihal-Kazigund (2013), Udampur-Katra (2014), and Banihal-Sambhaldan (2023). A major test run involved in the 22-coach train was held in January 2025 between Katra and Budgam, which clears the way for the upcoming launch. (KNS)
