4 days ago
PM Narendra Modi to inaugurate Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla rail link today: 8 landmark achievements
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to inaugurate the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) during his visit to Jammu and Kashmir on Friday, June 6.
Railway stations across the Kashmir valley have been decorated for the occasion, where PM Narendra Modi will flag off the first Delhi-Srinagar Vande Bharat Express – the first train to directly connect the Valley with the rest of India. The train will pass through Katra, the base town for the Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine.
Ahead of the event, security has been tightened across the region, especially in Katra city of Reasi district and Ramban, where security personnel conducted vehicle checks with dog squads. Udhampur railway station has also been placed under high alert.
Built at a cost of ₹43,780 crore, the 272-km rail line cuts through some of the most challenging terrain in the Himalayas.
According to a PIB release, the project features 36 main tunnels covering nearly 120 km, eight escape tunnels, and 943 bridges that span rivers, gorges, and mountain passes.
The USBRL project took over three decades to complete. According to an official press release, the idea of a rail link connecting the Kashmir valley to the rest of India was first floated in the 1970s. It was formally approved in 1994, and construction began in 2002 after the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government sanctioned funds for land acquisition.
J&K chief minister Omar Abdullah and union minister Jitendra Singh visited the Katra station on Thursday to inspect preparations. "If I say that I have been waiting for this day for a long time, it won't be an exaggeration," Abdullah said. 'This project started when I was in school, maybe in class 7 or 8. Today, my children have also completed their education and are now working.'
Railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw described the project as a turning point for Jammu and Kashmir's integration with the rest of India. 'This will improve trade, tourism and mobility,' the ministry said.
Meanwhile, the Vande Bharat Express will run between Katra and Srinagar, significantly reducing travel time and offering a safer and more comfortable option than road or air, especially during winter, when the Srinagar-Jammu highway is often shut. The project aims to end Kashmir's seasonal transport isolation and high airfares.
