✍️:. Rayees Ahmed Kumar
The two specially designed Vande Bharat trains between Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra and Srinagar were flagged off on 06 June 2025 by the Honorable Prime Minister. The inauguration of this direct rail link to the Valley marks a historic milestone, promising far-reaching impacts on Kashmir’s development, trade, tourism, and deeper integration with the rest of the country.
This project—the Udhampur–Srinagar–Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL)—was first approved in March 1995 at an estimated cost of ₹2,500 crore. In 2002, it was declared a national project, and sections became operational over the years. Now, with the final link complete, 272 km of track have been laid at a cost of ₹43,780 crore, passing through 36 tunnels and over 943 bridges, reducing travel time between Katra and Srinagar to just three hours.
Among the remarkable engineering feats are:
- The world’s highest railway arch bridge, 359 metres above the Chenab River in Reasi district.
- The first cable-stayed bridge in Indian Railways, on the Anji Khad in Reasi.
- The country’s longest transport tunnel, 12.77 km in Ramban district.
The Vande Bharat trains will run in both directions year-round, even in deep winter, ensuring uninterrupted connectivity to the Valley. Soon, the service will extend to Jammu Tawi, making it possible to travel to Srinagar directly from almost anywhere in India.
The economic impact is expected to be substantial. Goods such as apples, dry fruits, pashmina shawls, and handicrafts will reach markets faster and at lower costs. Prices of essential commodities transported into the Valley are also likely to fall. Just days before the formal launch, an express loaded with cherries departed Katra for Mumbai; soon after, a large consignment reached Saudi Arabia.
The difference this makes is clear when recalling winters of the past—highway closures lasting weeks, skyrocketing prices of essentials, and stockpiling by opportunistic traders. Air ticket prices would soar, leaving patients, students, and the underprivileged stranded. Students taking competitive exams outside the Valley often faced uncertainty, while essential medicines and surgical items were delayed or stuck in Jammu due to roadblocks.
Now, with all-weather rail service in place, many of these hardships will be eased. It will connect the northern tip of India with its southern end, drastically reducing travel time and making movement safer and more predictable. The education sector will also benefit, as students will have easier access to opportunities outside the Valley. Parents, once reluctant to send their children away due to unreliable transport, can now be more confident about their safety and return.
Enhanced connectivity will also promote cultural exchange in India’s linguistically, culturally, and religiously diverse landscape. Within a week of its launch, all Vande Bharat tickets for the next fifteen days were booked. In the peak summer heat across much of the country, Kashmir’s cooler climate and beauty are set to draw more tourists than ever before.
With better connectivity, this railway is more than just a transport link—it’s a lifeline, a growth engine, and a bridge between aspirations and opportunities for the people of Kashmir and beyond.
Rayeess Ahmad Kumar
Columnist based in Qazigund, Kashmir
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