Overview
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the 359-metre-high Chenab Bridge and flag off the Katra-Srinagar Vande Bharat Express on June 6, 2025.
- The Chenab Bridge’s steel arch design in Reasi district is built to withstand wind speeds over 250 km/h and major seismic activity.
- The 272-km Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link includes 36 tunnels covering 119 km and nearly 1,000 bridges.
- Vande Bharat services will initially run between Katra and Baramulla, with direct Jammu connectivity expected after yard expansion is completed by August or September.
- Launched in 1997 and beset by weather, geological and security challenges, the project has cost over ₹41,000 crore and now nears full operation.