Jammu Tawi, June 4: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the Chenab Bridge and visit the bridge deck and will also lay the foundation stone, inaugurate and dedicate to the nation multiple development projects worth over Rs 46,000 crore on June 6 at Katra in Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir.
A PIB release said that PM Modi will visit J&K on June 6 and in line with his commitment to boost rail infrastructure and connectivity in the region, he will visit and inaugurate the Anji bridge and flag off Vande Bharat trains.
The Prime Minister will also dedicate the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project to the nation, it said.
The release said that the 272-km long USBRL project, built with around Rs 43,780 crore, includes 36 tunnels (spanning 119 km) and 943 bridges.
The project establishes all-weather, seamless rail connectivity between the Kashmir Valley and the rest of the country aiming to transform regional mobility and driving socio-economic integration.
The Prime Minister will also flag off two Vande Bharat Express trains from Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra to Srinagar and back, said the release, adding that in a major boost to last-mile connectivity especially in border areas, the Prime Minister will lay the foundation stone and inaugurate various road projects.
He will lay the foundation stone for the road widening project from Rafiabad to Kupwara on National Highway-701 and the construction of Shopian bypass road on NH-444 worth over Rs 1,952 crore.
He will also inaugurate two flyover projects at Sangrama Junction on National Highway-1 in Srinagar and at Bemina Junction on National Highway-44.
The Prime Minister will also lay the foundation stone for Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence in Katra worth over Rs 350 crore. It will be the first medical college in Reasi district contributing substantially to the healthcare infrastructure in the region.
Chenab Rail Bridge, the architectural marvel, situated at a height of 359 meters above the river, is the world’s highest railway arch bridge.
It is a 1,315-metre-long steel arch bridge engineered to withstand seismic and wind conditions. A key impact of the bridge will be in enhancing connectivity between Jammu and Srinagar.
Through Vande Bharat train moving on the bridge, it will take about 3 hours to travel between Katra and Srinagar, reducing existing travel time by 2-3 hours.
The Anji Bridge is India’s first cable-stayed rail bridge that will serve the nation in a challenging terrain, it said.
Vande Bharat Train timetable announced
Srinagar, Jun 4: The Ministry of Railways has released the timetable for the newly introduced Vande Bharat Express train services between Jammu Tawi and Srinagar, marking a major milestone in enhancing rail connectivity in Jammu and Kashmir.
The semi-high-speed trains will operate with limited halts, stopping only at four key stations along the route—Jammu Tawi, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra, Banihal, and Srinagar.
According to the Ministry’s notification, two pairs of Vande Bharat Express trains have been approved for the route under train numbers 26401/02 and 26403/04.
These trains will run six days a week, with each taking one day off for maintenance and operational efficiency.
From Srinagar, train number 26402 will depart at 14:00 hrs and reach Jammu Tawi at 18:50 hrs, except on Tuesdays. Another train, 26404, will depart Srinagar at 08:00 hrs and arrive at Jammu Tawi by 12:40 hrs, operating every day except Wednesday.
On the return journey, train number 26401 will leave Jammu Tawi at 06:20 hrs and reach Srinagar by 11:10 hrs, except on Tuesdays. Meanwhile, train number 26403 will depart Jammu Tawi at 13:20 hrs and reach Srinagar at 18:00 hrs, not operating on Wednesdays.
The service is expected to be a game changer for tourism, business, and daily commuting in the region.
The Vande Bharat Express is set to glide swiftly between Katra and Srinagar, cutting down travel time and setting a new benchmark in comfort for the people of Jammu and Kashmir. This development is more than just a new train service—it stands as a symbol of how far the region’s railway network has come over the last 11 years.
