Katra, June 7, 2025 – Prime Minister Narendra Modi shared a heartwarming interaction with school children aboard the Katra-Srinagar Vande Bharat Express during its inaugural run on June 6, 2025, moments before flagging off the high-speed train from Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra railway station. The joyful exchange with young passengers highlighted the transformative impact of this new rail link, connecting Jammu with the Kashmir Valley in a swift three-hour journey.
The students, chosen for their talents in painting and poetry competitions, were thrilled to meet the Prime Minister. “I recited a poem for PM Modi, and he smiled warmly,” one child beamed, while another shared, “I told him about my painting on Kashmir’s beauty, and he asked me what inspired it.” Modi engaged the group with questions about their hobbies and aspirations, with one student noting, “He asked about my favorite sport and gave me advice on balancing studies and play.” Another added, “Meeting PM Modi felt like a dream. He made us feel so special.”
The Vande Bharat Express, a key component of the ₹43,780-crore Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project, covers the 272-km Katra-Srinagar route, stopping at Banihal, in just three hours—halving the time of road travel. Engineered for Kashmir’s extreme winters, the train features heated windscreens, bio-toilet heating, and seismic dampers, ensuring comfort and safety. It crosses the iconic Chenab Bridge, the world’s highest railway arch bridge at 359 meters, and the Anji Khad Bridge, India’s first cable-stayed railway bridge. Train 26401 departs Katra at 8:10 AM, reaching Srinagar by 11:08 AM, with the return trip (26402) leaving Srinagar at 2:00 PM. A second pair (26404/26403) runs six days a week, excluding Wednesdays, with fares at ₹715 for chair car and ₹1,320 for executive class.
Joined by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, and Union Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, Modi launched the train amid tight security following regional challenges, including a postponed April launch due to weather and safety concerns. The Katra-Srinagar rail link promises to boost pilgrimage to the Vaishno Devi shrine, enhance tourism, and support local economies by streamlining transport of Kashmiri goods like handicrafts and apples. Modi’s engagement with the students underscored the project’s role in uniting young minds with India’s vision of progress, making the journey a milestone in both connectivity and inspiration.
