India has recently inaugurated Vande Bharat Express, which runs between the Katra-Srinagar route. Notably, the train has been giving an overwhelming feeling to its passengers since the day it was launched.
According to the Railway Department, the train service has been fully booked for the upcoming ten days, which reflects the regional demand and excitement for this connectivity service in Jammu and Kashmir.
Notably, the train was flagged by Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi on June 6. Nationwide, this Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project has been considered a significant milestone for the Indian Railways.
While emphasizing the passenger interest, the Station Superintendent at Mata Vaishno Devi Katra Railway Station - Jugal Kishor Sharma, stated, “We are receiving a very good response from the public for the Vande Bharat Express, which was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. People are very excited, and there are no seats available for the next 10 days.”
In addition to this, he also highlighted that a surge in booking would surely give a boost to tourism in the region, emphasizing the growth. In this regard, he outlined, “It’s a new route, and there is great enthusiasm among the public to travel on it — that’s why there’s a long waiting list for seats.”
It is to be reported that this train service has been connecting a major pilgrimage site for devotees of Mata Vaishno Devi in Katra with Srinagar, the must-visit and scenic place of the Kashmir Valley. Notably, following the completion of the project, the travelers can complete this journey in just three hours - which means the journey has been reduced by approximately two to three hours.
He furthermore mentioned that the railway staff has been working days and nights to ensure that the passengers have a smooth experience. He said, “We are making sure that there are no discomfort or complaints from the passengers. The railway staff is also making all necessary efforts to facilitate the passengers.”
The journey across two engineering feats -
It is to be noted that during this beautiful and mesmerizing journey, the Vande Bharat train travels through two engineering feats - the Anji Khad Bridge, which is India’s first cable-stayed railway bridge, and the Chenab bridge, which is known to be the tallest railway arch bridge in the world.
This experience of enjoying the journey through these bridges, Sharma highlighted that the moment reflected the emotional resonance and said, “My eyes became teary when the train crossed the Chenab Bridge.”
During this journey, the Station Superintendent at Mata Vaishno Devi Katra Railway Station was accompanied by Minister Satish Sharma, who claimed it as a “historic moment” and said that it was a long-awaited project for the region and its people.
Along with this, he emphasized the train's potential to shatter the airline monopoly, providing locals with an easier, cheaper means of travel. Constructed at a cost of ₹43,780 crore, the USBRL project covers 272 km, of which 36 tunnels cover 119 km and 943 bridges.
Its completion provides all-weather, high-speed rail linkage between Jammu and the Kashmir Valley — a dream that took three decades to come true owing to the area's tough terrain and climatic conditions.
The Vande Bharat Express trains used on this corridor have been designed specially to function in cold climatic conditions, with features like fast acceleration, comfortable interiors, and enhanced safety measures.
As the demand increases, Indian Railways now has the responsibility of upsizing operations to keep pace with the fervor on the ground. But for the time being, the chattering platforms of Srinagar and Katra tell the tale — of pilgrims, tourists, and local citizens stepping on to not merely a train but a new frontier in Jammu and Kashmir's integration and mobility saga.