Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to inaugurate the Vande Bharat train connecting Kashmir to New Delhi in January, Minister of State for Railways Ravneet Singh said on Tuesday. The first Vande Bharat train on the route will pass through the Chenab Rail Bridge, the world's highest railway bridge. Only a small stretch of just 17 kilometres between Katra and Reasi is left to be completed.
"In January, as per the Prime Minister's schedule, the inauguration will take place. According to railway officials, this project is expected to be completed by December this year," Singh told reporters.
The minister said every single aspect from the safety angle needs to be checked, and all these things are being thoroughly inspected on a large scale. Officers and technical teams are repeatedly visiting to ensure everything is up to standard. "A lot of hard work has been put into this project, which is a massive undertaking. Once every aspect is verified, only then the date for its inauguration be decided," he said.
There is a huge load of trucks and vehicles on the highway, which gets closed during winter. The project is expected to provide relief to the people of the valley and increase tourism and business. "It is a gift to the people of Kashmir from the NDA government and the Prime Minister," Singh said. He said that while the project was previously halted, work had been expedited over the past eight years and is now on track to be completed by December.
The minister informed that the ticket prices will be between Rs 1,500 and Rs 2,100. The train will stop in Jammu and Mata Vaishno Devi. Fresh fruits, flowers, and vegetables from this region will reach Delhi faster.
The Delhi to Kashmir Vande Bharat Express will have 11 AC 3-tier coaches, four AC 2-tier coaches, and one First AC coach.
It will pass through the Chinab Bridge, which is located 359 meters above the Chenab riverbed and stands 35 meters higher than the Eiffel Tower in Paris. It forms a crucial link in the 111-km stretch from Katra to Banihal, which is part of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla section of the Kashmir Railway project.
