PM Modi’s scheduled inauguration of Vande Bharat Express postponed

Srinagar, Feb 16: The inauguration of the Vande Bharat Express between Katra and Srinagar has been postponed until the end of February due to a lack of final confirmation from the Prime Minister’s Office, officials confirmed.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi was initially scheduled to launch the first Vande Bharat Express to Kashmir on February 17, marking the completion of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project.
A senior officer from Northern Railway told Rising Kashmir that the delay occurred because the final schedule had not yet been received from the PM’s office. The event has now been pushed to the end of February, he said.
Chief Public Relations Officer Himanshu Shekhar Upadhyay also confirmed that the final schedule for the inauguration is still pending. “There has been no official confirmation regarding the exact timing and details of the event. However, preparations are underway at full pace to ensure all arrangements are in place once the schedule is finalised,” he stated.
Upadhyay added, “The trial runs have been successfully conducted, and all safety and technical checks are being completed to ensure smooth operation. We are awaiting the final nod, after which all arrangements will be executed as per the approved plan.”
Chief Area Manager (CAM) for Kashmir Railway, Saqib Yusuf Yatoo (IRTS), further clarified that no official orders had been issued for the start of the service on either February 17 or 21/22. These reports have not been officially confirmed, he said.
The Vande Bharat Express, designed with anti-frost windshield technology to handle the region’s harsh winter conditions, will provide safer and more comfortable journeys for passengers.
Meanwhile, yard remodelling work at Jammu Tawi Railway Station is nearing completion, with non-interlocking work expected to wrap up soon. “It’s a challenging task, but once finished, the station redevelopment will gain momentum,” said an official.
The ₹450 crore project aims to expand the station’s platforms from three to seven, incorporating state-of-the-art ballast-less track technology to ensure smoother operations. The commissioning of the remodelled Jammu Tawi yard is scheduled for March 6, 2025.
The rail line, built at an estimated cost of ₹41,000 crore, traverses some of the world’s most challenging terrains. This includes the iconic Chenab Bridge, standing 1,178 feet above the river—taller than the Eiffel Tower—and over 100 kilometers of tunnels carved through the mountains.