As Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off two Vande Bharat Express trains from Katra to Srinagar and inaugurated landmark railway bridges in Jammu and Kashmir on Friday, the loco pilot of the newly launched high-speed train hailed the moment as a historic achievement made possible by the relentless efforts of Indian Railways personnel.
Loco pilot Sharma, who steered the Vande Bharat Express on its inaugural journey from Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra (SVDK) to Srinagar, said, “This was not an ordinary task. It became possible only because of the hard work, dedication, devotion, and determination of our railway workers and engineers. The terrain was extremely challenging, but the team overcame every technical and geographical hurdle.”
Calling it a proud day for the country, Sharma added, “This is a big achievement for India. With this project, it feels like India has stepped into the developed world. The new Vande Bharat trains offer ease, comfort, and reliability, equipped with modern technology suited even for the cold climate of the Kashmir Valley.”
Earlier in the day, PM Modi inaugurated the Chenab Railway Bridge, the world’s highest railway arch bridge, and the Anji Khad Bridge, India’s first cable-stayed railway bridge — both in Jammu and Kashmir’s Reasi district. In a symbolic gesture, the Prime Minister waved the national flag, the Tiranga, from the deck of the Chenab Bridge.
The newly launched Vande Bharat Express trains will cut travel time between Katra and Srinagar to just about three hours, from the current 6–7 hours by road. These trains are part of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Railway Link (USBRL), a ₹43,780 crore mega-infrastructure project aimed at providing all-weather, seamless rail connectivity between the Kashmir Valley and the rest of the country.
The USBRL project spans 272 km, includes 36 tunnels covering 119 km and 943 bridges, and represents a milestone in India’s efforts to integrate remote regions into the national mainstream through transformative infrastructure.