Srinagar, Apr 15: Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s scheduled visit to Jammu and Kashmir on April 19 to inaugurate the Vande Bharat Express from Katra to Srinagar has been postponed, officials said on Tuesday.
The visit was meant to mark the launch of the Vande Bharat Express on a key segment of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL), a 272-km-long mega infrastructure project aimed at revolutionizing rail connectivity in the region. However, no fresh date has been announced for the rescheduled event.
Chief Area Manager (CAM) Kashmir, Saqib Yousuf Yatoo (IRTS), told Rising Kashmir that the inauguration of the USBRL project by PM Modi has been postponed. While preparations are in full swing for the high-profile visit, with security drills, trial runs, and logistical arrangements underway, he said.
Another official said that a communique was received from the PMO office that due to the busy schedule of PM Modi this week, the inaugural of USBRL project has been cancelled and new dates will be announced after April 25, accordingly.
Meanwhile a special trial run of the Vande Bharat Express was successfully conducted on the Katra–Sangaldan section of the Udhampur–Srinagar–Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL).
A senior railway official said that All technical inspections, including the successful trial run of the Vande Bharat Express, have been completed. The infrastructure is ready and fully operational. We are geared up for the grand launch whenever it will be inaugurated, he said.
The official said that Katra–Sangaldan stretch is the last and most challenging segment of the USBRL project, featuring several engineering marvels—including the iconic Chenab Railway Bridge, the world’s highest railway arch bridge.
“The completion of this stretch will enable direct rail connectivity between New Delhi and Kashmir, drastically reducing travel time and boosting trade and tourism in the region,” he added.
J&K BJP President Sat Sharma, General Secretary & MLA Dr. Devinder Kumar Manyal, MLAs Baldev Raj Sharma and Kuldeep Raj Dubey, and District President Rohit Dubey visited the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra (SMVDK) Railway Station to inspect the arrangements.
They also boarded the train and described the launch as a historic moment that symbolizes progress, national integration, and economic upliftment for Jammu and Kashmir.
Talking to Rising Kashmir, J&K BJP President Sat Sharma said the arrival of Vande Bharat to Kashmir is not just a technological achievement, but a symbol of the Union Government’s commitment to the development of J&K. It will greatly benefit pilgrims, tourists, and local residents alike, he said.
“This railway link is a lifeline for the region. The completion of USBRL will strengthen connectivity, create jobs, and uplift the economy of remote areas,” Sharma said.
USBRL is poised to be a game-changer for the Union Territory, connecting remote regions through a reliable and modern railway system.
The project, spread across rugged terrain and involving dozens of tunnels and bridges, is a testament to India’s engineering prowess and strategic vision for inclusive development.
