Surinder Sharma
Srinagar, June 6 — Senior Jammu and Kashmir National Conference leader and former Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah on Tuesday expressed immense satisfaction after travelling aboard the newly launched Vande Bharat Express between Srinagar and Katra. His remarks came days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off the train on June 6, marking a historic milestone in India’s rail connectivity — linking Kashmir to Kanyakumari by train for the first time.
Speaking to reporters at the Nowgam Railway Station in Srinagar, Dr. Abdullah described the Vande Bharat service as a “great blessing” for the people of Jammu and Kashmir. “I am extremely happy. This is the biggest benefit for us,” he said, adding that the train will greatly ease travel for both residents and tourists.
Nowgam station is a crucial part of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project, which has connected the Kashmir Valley to the Jammu region and the rest of India via railway for the first time.
Highlighting the practical advantages of the new service, Abdullah pointed out that road travel remains challenging in the region due to terrain, while air travel is often prohibitively expensive. “This train will significantly benefit the people and tourists alike,” he noted.
Prime Minister Modi inaugurated two Vande Bharat Express trains from Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra station to Srinagar on June 6. These high-speed trains are expected to cut travel time between Katra and Srinagar to approximately three hours — reducing the journey by two to three hours compared to existing options.
With the launch of this service, passengers can now travel directly from Katra to Srinagar by train, completing the long-envisioned rail integration of Jammu and Kashmir.