PM Modi to flag off first Vande Bharat train to Kashmir from Katra today

Security has been tightened across the Jammu region ahead of the historic occasion as Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to flag off the first Vande Bharat train from Katra to the Kashmir Valley on Friday.

A multi-layered security arrangement has been put in place in Jammu, Udhampur, Ramban, and Reasi districts, with sniffer dogs, drones, and personnel from the Army, J&K Police and CRPF deployed. The Prime Minister is also set to address a public rally at Katra in Reasi district.

PM Modi will inaugurate the iconic Chenab Bridge and is expected to visit the bridge deck around 11 am. Later, he will inaugurate the Anji Bridge, India’s first cable-stayed rail bridge. At approximately 12 noon, he will flag off two Vande Bharat Express trains connecting Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra station with Srinagar.

Following this, the Prime Minister will lay the foundation stone, inaugurate and dedicate to the nation several development projects worth over Rs 46,000 crore at Katra.

Security forces and intelligence agencies are paying particular attention to Reasi and Udhampur districts, which have witnessed recent incidents of terrorism and militant movement. Security is also being closely monitored along the Line of Control (LoC) and the International Border (IB).

The Chenab Rail Bridge, standing 359 metres above the river, is the world’s highest railway arch bridge. Spanning 1,315 metres, it has been engineered to withstand seismic activity and high-velocity winds. The bridge is expected to significantly enhance connectivity between Jammu and Srinagar. With the introduction of the Vande Bharat train service, the journey between Katra and Srinagar will now take just about three hours—cutting travel time by two to three hours. The Anji Bridge, another engineering marvel, is the country’s first cable-stayed railway bridge and will facilitate connectivity through extremely challenging terrain.

The 272-kilometre-long Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Railway Link (USBRL) project, built at a cost of approximately Rs 43,780 crore, includes 36 tunnels (spanning 119 km) and 943 bridges. The project ensures all-weather, seamless rail connectivity between the Kashmir Valley and the rest of the country, aiming to revolutionise regional mobility and drive socio-economic integration.

In addition to the railway inaugurations, the Prime Minister will lay the foundation stone for the road widening project from Rafiabad to Kupwara on National Highway-701, and for the construction of the Shopian bypass road—together worth over Rs 1,952 crore. He will also inaugurate two flyovers: one at Sangrama Junction on National Highway-1 in Srinagar and another at Bemina Junction on National Highway-44. These projects aim to reduce traffic congestion and improve traffic flow for commuters. PM Modi will also lay the foundation stone of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence in Katra. The medical college, with an estimated cost of over Rs 350 crore, will be the first in Reasi district and is expected to significantly boost healthcare infrastructure in the region.

When and where to catch

Train 26404/26403 (no service on Wednesdays)

Departs Srinagar at 8:00 am, halts at Banihal at 9:02 am, reaches Katra by 10:58 am

Returns from Katra at 2:55 pm, stops at Banihal at 4:40 pm, and arrives in Srinagar at 5:53 pm

Train 26401/26402 (no service on Tuesdays)

Leaves Katra at 8:10 am, reaches Banihal at 9:58 am, and arrives in Srinagar at 11:08 am

Departs Srinagar at 2:00 pm, halts at Banihal at 3:10 pm, and reaches Katra by 4:58 pm