Vande Bharat Express Launches Between Jammu and Srinagar, Receives Overwhelming Welcome

Vande Bharat Express Begins Service Between Jammu and Srinagar

The Vande Bharat Express high-speed train began running between Jammu and Srinagar — the two major cities of Jammu & Kashmir — starting today (May 2). One might wonder what is special about a Vande Bharat train running in Kashmir when it already operates across many states in India. The answer lies in history: even 79 years after independence, Kashmir was connected to the rest of the country only by a national highway. There was no railway line stretching from Kashmir in the north to Kanyakumari in the south.

The Challenge of Laying Rail Lines

The uneven, mountainous terrain of Jammu & Kashmir made building a railway line an almost impossible task. In particular, laying 272 km of track between Udhampur, Srinagar, and Baramulla posed enormous engineering challenges. Even before independence, Maharaja Hari Singh of Jammu & Kashmir had urged the British government to build a railway on this route. Surveys were conducted but no progress was made. After independence, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi laid the foundation stone for this railway project in 1983, with a target to complete it in five years at an estimated cost of Rs 50 crore. But tunnelling through the Himalayas proved no ordinary task — in 13 years, only 11 km of track could be laid, at a cost of Rs 300 crore.

An Engineering Marvel

Subsequent prime ministers Deve Gowda and I. K. Gujral also attempted to revive the project, but progress remained stalled. The biggest challenge was building a bridge across the Chenab River. Work on a massive iron bridge over the Chenab finally began in 2017. Construction continued for five years through extreme cold, heavy rain, and dense fog, completing in 2022. Hailed as an engineering marvel, the Chenab Bridge became the world's highest railway bridge — 359 metres tall and 1.31 km long, standing 35 metres taller than the Eiffel Tower in Paris. The project cost alone was Rs 1,400 crore.

PM Modi Inaugurates the Line

With the Chenab Bridge complete, the full 272 km Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla rail line was finished at a total cost of Rs 44,000 crore. Prime Minister Modi inaugurated the line in June 2025. However, since the train runs through an area facing terrorist threats, launching regular passenger services was repeatedly delayed while the government worked to ensure passenger safety.

Armed Soldiers Guard Every Coach

As of today (Saturday), the Vande Bharat Express is running with armed soldiers stationed in every coach. The train departs Jammu at 6:20 AM and reaches Srinagar at 11:10 AM — a journey of 4 hours and 50 minutes. The same distance by road takes 7 to 8 hours under normal conditions, and over 10 hours in rain or snow.

Overwhelming Public Response

The introduction of the Vande Bharat Express has been welcomed not only by locals but also by tourists. On its very first day, every seat was fully booked. Sunday's train also has only a handful of seats remaining, expected to fill up shortly.

A New Experience for Travellers

The Jammu-Srinagar Vande Bharat journey promises a unique travel experience — passengers can enjoy breathtaking views of snow-capped mountains, dense forests, and vast valleys along the route. Given that the train runs through snow-covered mountain terrain, the coaches are equipped with heaters to protect passengers from the cold, much like the air conditioning fitted in Vande Bharat trains running in warmer parts of India.