SRINAGAR, June 1: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to inaugurate the Katra-Srinagar Vande Bharat train service in the first week of June, marking a major milestone in the completion of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project — a 272-kilometre railway corridor that connects the Kashmir Valley with the rest of India.
According to official sources, the inauguration is tentatively scheduled for June 6, when the Prime Minister is expected to flag off the semi-high-speed Vande Bharat Express from Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra (SVDK) station to Srinagar. Ahead of the ceremony, PM Modi is likely to visit the iconic Chenab Bridge, the world’s highest railway bridge and a key engineering highlight of the USBRL.
A communication from Northern Railway to senior officials confirms the upcoming event. “This is to inform you that the inauguration of the USBRL section and the flagging off of the Vande Bharat Express (SVDK–SINA), Rake-21/2080, by the Honourable Prime Minister of India, is scheduled for the first week of June 2025 at SVDK,” the letter states.The launch of this new Vande Bharat service is expected to significantly enhance connectivity to the Kashmir Valley, promote tourism, and facilitate faster, more efficient travel for both residents and pilgrims.
