Historic! PM Modi to Flag Off First-Ever Vande Bharat Train to Kashmir on June 6

The long-awaited dream of connecting Kashmir to the rest of India via railway is finally coming true. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the first-ever Vande Bharat Express to Kashmir on June 6, marking the completion of the ambitious 272-km Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla rail link project (USBRL).

This historic launch will take place at the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi (SMVD) railway station in Katra, Jammu, from where the Vande Bharat train will begin its journey to Baramulla in North Kashmir. Simultaneously, another Vande Bharat train will be flagged off from Baramulla to Katra, symbolizing two-way connectivity for the region.

First Visit Post ‘Operation Sindoor’

This also marks PM Modi’s first visit to Jammu and Kashmir following ‘Operation Sindoor’—India’s precision strike on terror camps in Pakistan on May 7, in retaliation to the deadly Pahalgam terror attack that took place on April 22 and claimed 26 lives, mostly tourists.

Engineering Feat: Overcoming the Himalayas

While train services have been operational between Banihal and Baramulla in the Kashmir Valley and between Jammu, Udhampur, and Katra in the Jammu region, the missing link was the 111-km Katra-Banihal section. Known for its treacherous terrain and engineering challenges, this stretch posed the toughest obstacle in the USBRL project. Its completion now unifies the region with the Indian railway grid.

This new route will significantly cut travel time, enhance connectivity, boost tourism, and offer strategic advantages for logistics and national security. It’s not just a rail link—it’s a symbol of integration, development, and a new chapter for Kashmir.

With the introduction of the Vande Bharat train, Indian Railways will also enhance facilities at key stations along the route, including Katra, Banihal, Srinagar, and Baramulla. These upgrades will involve better waiting areas, food courts, digital boards, and improved security arrangements. Special focus is also being laid on weather-resilient infrastructure to handle snowfall and landslides during winter.