Jammu, Apr 30: Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh commemorated the launch of the augmented 20-coach Jammu-Srinagar Vande Bharat Express as a landmark achievement in Jammu & Kashmir’s rail connectivity, crediting Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 2014 tenure for accelerating progress after decades of delay.
Speaking at the flagging-off ceremony at Jammu Railway Station, Dr Singh recalled that while the first train reached Jammu in 1972, expansion into the Kashmir Valley stalled for nearly 50 years. “Significant progress has been achieved in the last decade, with railway infrastructure now developing at par with the rest of the country,” he said, addressing an audience that included Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, and MPs Sat Paul Sharma and Ghulam Ali Khatana.
The new service promises to slash travel time between Jammu and Srinagar, fulfilling a long-standing regional aspiration. Dr Singh emphasized its multifaceted benefits: enhancing ease of travel, boosting logistics efficiency, and promoting ease of doing business. “Improved rail connectivity will lead to a substantial rise in pilgrim inflow to key destinations, facilitate seamless movement of security personnel, reduce travel times, improve access to remote areas, and integrate local economies with national markets,” he noted.
Economically, the minister highlighted its role in strengthening supply chains and cutting transportation costs for essential commodities and local produce like apples from Shopian or saffron from Pampore. This could revitalize agriculture-based industries, create jobs, and stimulate growth in the Union Territory.
Expressing gratitude to PM Modi, Dr Singh recalled Modi’s 2014 visit to inaugurate the Mata Vaishno Devi Railway Station, underscoring the government’s infrastructure focus. Post-ceremony, he joined Vaishnaw on the train to inspect Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra Station and the iconic Chenab Bridge—the world’s highest rail arch bridge.
Speaking to reporters en route, Dr Singh described the project as a “pilot rail endeavor” unmatched globally due to its technological sophistication amid Himalayan challenges. “Learnings from here will replicate in Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, and Northeast States,” he said, thanking Vaishnaw for unwavering support.
The duo later inspected Anji Bridge and Chenab Bridge, symbols of engineering prowess in the Rs 43,780 crore Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL). This all-weather connectivity, with 36 tunnels (119 km) and 943 bridges, bridges Kashmir to mainland India, fostering socio-economic integration.
The launch builds on last year’s Katra-Srinagar Vande Bharat flagged off by PM Modi, marking steady progress toward full operationalization.
