India's highest railway bridge paves way for Kashmir’s first train service starting April 19

The long-awaited railway connectivity to the Kashmir Valley is set to become a reality. On April 19, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the first-ever train service in Kashmir, marking a historic milestone in India's railway expansion.

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The inaugural journey will feature a special Vande Bharat train operating from Katra to Srinagar. This development comes as a result of the completion of the Chenab Rail Bridge, the world’s highest railway bridge, which has made it possible to connect Srinagar with the rest of India.

Following the flag-off ceremony, PM Modi will visit the Chenab Bridge, an engineering marvel towering 359 meters above the Chenab River, and address a public gathering. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, Minister Jitendra Singh, Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, and former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah are expected to be present at the event.

Initially, rail operations were projected to begin in August, but the Katra-Srinagar-Baramulla route will now commence earlier. Meanwhile, work is progressing to extend the railway line up to Jammu Railway Station, ultimately enabling seamless train travel from Delhi to Srinagar.

With this inauguration, Kashmir, often referred to as India’s crown jewel, will finally be linked to the national rail network, fulfilling a decades-long dream for the region’s people.