Jammu-Srinagar Vande Bharat Express to enhance ease of travel and boost Vaishno Devi pilgrims: Dr Jitendra

01/05/2026

Jammu, Apr 30: Union Minister Dr.Jitendra Singh on Thursday said that the commencement of the augmented 20-coach Jammu-Srinagar Vande Bharat Express marks a landmark achievement in ongoing efforts to transform rail connectivity in the union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
The minister was addressing a gathering at Jammu Railway Station during the flagging-off ceremony, held in the presence of union Minister for Railways and Information and Broadcasting Ashwini Vaishnaw, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, and Members of Parliament Sat Paul Sharma and Ghulam Ali Khatana.
Dr. Singh said the introduction of this direct train service between Jammu and Srinagar will significantly enhance ease of travel, improve logistics efficiency, and promote ease of doing business across the region. He added that the launch of the Vande Bharat Express fulfils a long-standing aspiration of the people of the region.
He emphasised that improved rail connectivity is expected to lead to a substantial rise in pilgrim inflow to key destinations, while also facilitating the seamless and efficient movement of security personnel. Enhanced connectivity, he said, will reduce travel time, improve access to remote areas, and integrate local economies more closely with national markets. Highlighting the economic significance of the project, the minister said the new rail service will strengthen supply chains and reduce transportation costs for essential commodities and local produce.
Referring to its tourism and cultural potential, Dr. Singh noted that the rail corridor passes through some of the most picturesque and previously less accessible locations, including Sangaldan in Ramban district, which were not easily accessible earlier. Improved accessibility, he said, is likely to boost tourist footfall and renew interest from filmmakers. He added that Jammu and Kashmir has historically been a preferred destination for film shooting, and better connectivity could revive that legacy by making remote and pristine locations more reachable.
Dr. Singh expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for enabling direct rail connectivity between Jammu and Srinagar. He recalled that although the railway network reached Jammu in 1972, its extension into the Kashmir Valley remained stalled for over four decades. In recent years, he said, significant progress has brought railway infrastructure in the region on par with the rest of the country. He also recalled that Prime Minister Modi had inaugurated the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Railway Station in 2014 soon after assuming office, underscoring the government's focus on connectivity and infrastructure in the region.
Later, Dr. Singh travelled on the Vande Bharat Express with Railway Minister AshwiniVaishnaw to visit the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra Railway Station. Speaking to reporters, he described the project as akin to a pilot initiative due to its technological sophistication and execution in challenging Himalayan terrain, possibly a first of its kind globally.
He said the experience gained from the project would be replicated in other hilly regions, including Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, and the Northeastern states. Dr. Singh also thanked Vaishnaw for his continued support and for addressing key project requirements. Afterwards, Dr Singh also accompanied Vaishnaw for inspection of Anji Bridge and Chenab Bridge along the Vande Bharat Express route.

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