Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to inaugurate the Katra-Srinagar Vande Bharat Express on June 6, 2025, marking a historic milestone in India's rail connectivity. This semi-high-speed train service will be the first to link the Kashmir Valley directly with the rest of the country via rail, significantly reducing travel time between Katra and Srinagar from approximately 6–7 hours by road to about 3 hours by train.

The inauguration ceremony will take place at Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra Railway Station, with the Prime Minister flagging off the train. The event will also feature the unveiling of the Chenab Bridge, the world’s highest railway arch bridge, standing 359 meters above the Chenab River . These developments are part of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project, a 272-kilometer stretch aimed at enhancing regional connectivity and promoting economic growth in Jammu and Kashmir.

The Katra-Srinagar Vande Bharat Express is designed to operate efficiently in extreme cold conditions, with features such as silicon heating pads, heated plumbing systems, and anti-spall layers, ensuring comfort and safety for passengers.

This initiative is expected to boost tourism, facilitate smoother pilgrimages to the Vaishno Devi shrine, and foster greater integration of Jammu and Kashmir with the rest of India.