Prime Minister Narendra Modi will flag off the first Vande Bharat Express to Kashmir from Katra on April 19, marking the completion of the of the 272-kilometre Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla rail link.

Speaking to reporters in Jammu yesterday, Union Minister Jitendra Singh said, Prime Minister Modi will arrive in Udhampur on April 19. He will visit the world’s highest railway bridge and inaugurate it. After that, he will flag off the Vande Bharat train from Katra.

The service will initially run from Katra as Jammu station is under renovation.

The much-awaited rail project, which began in 1997, faced multiple delays due to tough terrain. It includes 38 tunnels, 927 bridges, and the 1,315-meter-long Chenab Bridge, which is taller than the Eiffel Tower.

According to officials, the train will significantly cut travel time between Jammu and Srinagar, improving connectivity for the region.