Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to launch train services connecting Katra, the base camp of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Ji shrine, to Srinagar in Kashmir on Friday, June 6, marking a historic milestone in India’s railway network.
This launch, during PM Modi’s first visit to Jammu and Kashmir after Operation Sindoor, underscores India’s commitment to infrastructure development and economic growth in the region.
Confirming the Prime Minister’s itinerary, Dr Jitendra Singh, Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office, Tuesday posted on X, stating, “History in the making… Just 3 days to go! The mighty Chenab Bridge, the world’s highest railway bridge, stands tall in Jammu and Kashmir. Built to withstand nature’s toughest tests. PM Narendra Modi to inaugurate the Chenab Bridge on June 6, 2025.”
The inauguration of the rail link was initially scheduled for April 19, 2025, but was postponed due to adverse weather forecasts, including light to moderate rain and snow. The rescheduling to June 6 aligns with the upcoming Amarnath Yatra (July 3–August 9, 2025), as the rail link is expected to ease pilgrim travel, especially during frequent blockades of the Jammu-Srinagar highway.
Meanwhile, security has been significantly bolstered ahead of the Prime Minister’s visit. A multi-tier security setup has been implemented along the Katra-Sangaldan section and the entire USBRL track. Thorough frisking, luggage screening, and combing operations are underway, particularly in Katra, Udhampur, Reasi and Ramban districts.
High-tech cameras have been installed along the track, especially in tunnels and bridges, to monitor for potential threats. The measures follow a fresh security audit conducted after the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed 26 lives.
According to official sources, Prime Minister Modi is expected to land at Udhampur before proceeding to the Chenab Bridge in Reasi district for an inspection on June 6.
He will then arrive at Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra (SVDK) station to flag off two Vande Bharat Express trains — one from Katra to Baramulla and another virtually from Baramulla to Katra.
The event will be attended by Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, Union Minister of State Dr Jitendra Singh, Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, among other dignitaries.
While the Vande Bharat service will initially operate between Katra and Baramulla, expansion to Jammu is planned for August–September 2025, pending the completion of platform expansion at Jammu Tawi station.
A public rally at Katra Stadium is also planned, underscoring the event’s significance. The Chenab Bridge, standing 467 meters above the riverbed — 35 meters taller than the Eiffel Tower — is a symbol of India’s engineering prowess. Designed to withstand earthquakes up to magnitude eight and harsh climatic conditions, the bridge used 29,000 metric tonnes of steel and features a first-of-its-kind cable crane system for construction. The Anji Khad Bridge, another highlight, showcases advanced engineering with 96 cables supporting its cable-stayed structure.
Spanning 272 kilometers, the rail link includes 119 kilometers of tunnels, 943 bridges, and engineering marvels like the Chenab Bridge and India’s first cable-stayed Anji Khad Bridge. Costing over Rs 43,000 crore, with Rs 35,000 crore invested in the Katra-Banihal section alone, the project has been completed in phases since its approval in 1994-95 and designation as a National Project in 2002.
The Vande Bharat Express, specially designed for Kashmir’s sub-zero temperatures, is equipped with advanced features such as heating systems, anti-spall layers, automatic doors, CCTV surveillance and an anti-frost windshield to ensure safe operation in temperatures as low as minus 20°C. The train will cover the Katra-Srinagar distance of approximately 150 kilometers in just over two hours and 30 minutes, significantly reducing the current 6–7 hour road journey.
The USBRL project is poised to revolutionise connectivity in Jammu and Kashmir, boosting tourism, horticulture, agriculture, and industries. The rail link will ensure seamless transport of goods like Kashmir apples and handicrafts to markets across India, reducing dependence on the weather-prone Jammu-Srinagar highway.
The project also holds strategic significance, strengthening India’s infrastructure in a region critical to national security.