Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the Vande Bharat Express, connecting Kashmir to New Delhi via the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL), in January 2025, according to Minister of State for Railways Ravneet Singh Bittu. The minister stated that this marks a significant milestone in India’s rail network, as the high-speed train will traverse the world’s tallest railway bridge, the Chenab Rail Bridge.
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MoS Navneet Singh Bittu said the USBRL project spans 272 km, of which 255 km have been completed. The remaining 17 km, between Katra and Reasi, is set to be finished by December 2024. Officials stated that inspections are ongoing to ensure safety and operational readiness. Ravneet Singh confirmed that the inauguration will align with the Prime Minister’s schedule.
Railway authorities are conducting comprehensive checks to verify all technical and structural aspects. Teams are inspecting the infrastructure repeatedly to meet the highest standards. Officials highlighted the extensive effort invested in this ambitious project, emphasising that only after full verification will the final inauguration date be confirmed.
Once the Katra-Srinagar section is operational, the Vande Bharat Express is expected to run on the route. This indigenously manufactured train, developed at Chennai’s Rail Coach Factory, will initially feature fewer coaches for the challenging terrain. Additionally, 32 new trains are planned, including services from New Delhi, Chennai and Kanyakumari to destinations in Jammu and Kashmir.
“We will take people from Delhi to Kashmir for just Rs 1,500 to Rs 2,100. En route, we will stop in Jammu and Mata Vaishno Devi. This project has enormous tourism potential and will bring a tourism boom to the region,” MoS Singh said as quoted by news agency PTI
The USBRL project includes engineering feats like the Chenab Rail Bridge, the world’s tallest arched bridge, standing 35 metres higher than the Eiffel Tower. The bridge spans 1,375 metres, with an arch length of 467 metres and a height of 359 metres. The project also features 38 tunnels, with the longest stretching 12.75 kilometres and 927 bridges, reflecting its technical complexity.
