The Vande Bharat train, currently operating between Katra and Srinagar, will soon be extended to start its journey from Jammu. Preparations to this effect are in full swing, according to the Railways Department.
Divisional Railway Manager Jammu, Vivek Kumar, informed that heavy rains had damaged certain portions of the railway track,
is the main reason delaying the process. However, repair work is currently underway on a war footing.He further stated that the delay was also caused by the return of many laborers from Jammu and Kashmir to other states, which slowed down the restoration efforts.
“Work is being carried out on a priority basis. Soon everything will be back on track, and the Vande Bharat service will begin operating from Jammu to Srinagar,” Kumar assured.
The Vande Bharat train service between Katra and Srinagar, along with a special local train service introduced by the Jammu division of Northern Railways, has emerged as a big relief for commuters and tourists.Since its inauguration by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on June 6 at Katra railway station, more than 2.5 lakh passengers have travelled on the Vande Bharat. Two trains operate daily in each direction, with each eight-coach train accommodating over 500 passengers.
For many, the train has become a lifeline, especially during highway closures and traffic jams on NH44. A local businessman travelling from Katra to Srinagar said, “During the recent floods, I left my car in Srinagar and took the Vande Bharat to reach Jammu without much trouble. It saved me from hours of being stuck on the highway.”
Locals working away from home also find the train service helpful. A Srinagar-based man posted in Jammu said the train has allowed him to spend weekends with his family. “Now I can travel on Saturdays and be home the same evening, which was not possible earlier,” he said.Tourists, too, are happy. Ramesh Kumar, a visitor from Delhi, said, “It took us only three hours from Srinagar to Katra, something we couldn’t imagine earlier.”
Meanwhile, a temporary local train service between Katra and Banihal, started on September 19, has already carried about 9,000 passengers. Running until October 2, it is helping those stranded due to highway disruptions, with nearly 600–700 people using it daily in each direction.
Follow us
