Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the Vande Bharat train connecting Kashmir to New Delhi in January. Giving this information on Tuesday, Minister of State for Railways Ravneet Singh said that PM Modi will inaugurate the Vande Bharat train connecting Kashmir to New Delhi on the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) in January 2025.
The Minister of State for Railways said that this train will pass through the world’s highest railway bridge, Chenab Rail Bridge. Railways has completed 255 km of the 272 km USBRL project, leaving only a small stretch of 17 km between Katra and Reasi to be completed by December.
The inauguration will take place as per the Prime Minister’s schedule.
Ravneet Singh said that the inauguration will take place in January as per the Prime Minister’s schedule. According to railway officials, this project is expected to be completed by December this year. He said that people’s safety is paramount. Every aspect has to be scrutinized and all these things are being inspected on a large scale. Officials and technical teams are making frequent visits to ensure that everything is as per the standards. A lot of hard work has gone into this project, which is a huge task. He said that the date of its inauguration will be decided only after every aspect is investigated.
Train service expected to start
Singh said, “We hope to start the train service to Kashmir in January next year. There is heavy pressure of trucks and vehicles on the highway which is closed during winters. This project will provide relief to the people of the valley, promote tourism and boost trade. This is a gift to the people of Kashmir from the NDA government and the Prime Minister.”
Know how much the fare will be
He said that the project was stalled earlier, but the work has been expedited in the last eight years and is now expected to be completed by December. The Minister also acknowledged the sacrifices and efforts of the employees and officers involved in the project. He said, “I will also discuss this project during the Parliament session starting from December 25. We will take people from Delhi to Kashmir for just Rs 1,500 to Rs 2,100. On the way we will stop at Jammu and Mata Vaishno Devi. This project has immense tourism potential and will boost tourism in the area.”
