Diplomat Correspondent
Jammu, DD: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to inaugurate the historic Kashmir rail link on 6 June, marking a significant milestone in the region’s connectivity with the rest of India. This will be his first visit to Jammu and Kashmir following Operation Sindoor.
According to official sources, the Prime Minister will dedicate the iconic Chenab Rail Bridge to the nation. As a key element of the 272-kilometre Udhampur–Srinagar–Baramulla Railway Line (USBRL), the bridge symbolises the completion of one of India’s most ambitious and challenging infrastructure projects, which now fully connects the Kashmir Valley to the Indian rail network.
After the inauguration, Prime Minister Modi is expected to travel by train to Katra, inspecting along the way the country’s first cable-stayed railway bridge over the Anji Khad. He will also interact with engineers and retired railway officials who played instrumental roles in the project’s execution.
At Katra, a major pilgrimage hub for devotees of Mata Vaishno Devi, Modi will flag off two Vande Bharat Express trains—one from Katra to Baramulla and the other on the return route. This event will officially mark the operationalisation of the Kashmir rail link.
However, officials clarified that passengers will still be required to change trains at Katra, even though the network is now seamlessly connected.
Following the train flag-off ceremony, Prime Minister Modi is also expected to address a large public gathering in Katra.
Initiated in 1997, the USBRL project has faced numerous delays due to difficult terrain, complex geology, and severe weather conditions, ultimately pushing the project’s cost beyond ₹41,000 crore.
The railway line has been commissioned in phases over the past 15 years:
118 km Qazigund–Baramulla (2009)
18 km Banihal–Qazigund (2013)
25 km Udhampur–Katra (2014)
48.1 km Banihal–Sangaldan (early 2024)
46 km Sangaldan–Reasi (completed June 2024)
17 km Reasi–Katra (completed December 2024)
Of the total 272 kilometres, approximately 119 km passes through tunnels. The entire line is equipped with advanced CCTV surveillance systems to ensure passenger safety.
This railway link is expected to boost tourism, economic development, and regional integration in Jammu and Kashmir.(DD)