Infrastructure triumph: PM Modi flags off Vande Bharat train; Kashmir’s rail link transforms connectivity

The world’s highest railway arch bridge and first cable-stayed rail link anchor newfound connectivity. A day of engineering marvels and strategic resolve as India’s Prime Minister unleashes projects worth over ₹46,000 crore. Vande Bharat trains, roads, tunnels, and a medical college signal a new dawn for the region.

By Ahmed Fayyaz

X: @the_news_21

Srinagar: On June 6, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Jammu & Kashmir stood as a defining moment not just in terms of optics, but as a transformative chapter in the story of regional development, national integration, and infrastructural triumph. This was not a ceremonial stopover—it was a determined stride into the heart of the Himalayas with steel, speed, and strategy.

The day witnessed the culmination of decades of engineering vision, the realization of large-scale infrastructure, and the declaration that even the remotest corners of India are integral to its collective future. A centrepiece of the visit was the formal inauguration of the Udhampur–Srinagar–Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL), a 272-kilometre marvel etched through some of the most formidable terrains in the world.

With 36 tunnels and 943 bridges, the project represents a feat that goes beyond civil engineering—an unflinching resolve to bridge mountains, literally and figuratively. The USBRL now ensures all-weather, seamless rail connectivity between Jammu and Kashmir and the rest of India, transforming not only the transportation matrix of the region but also its economic, social, and cultural mobility.

Towering above this network is the Chenab Railway Bridge—now the highest railway arch bridge in the world at 359 meters above the Chenab River. Constructed with the precision required to withstand high seismic activity and fierce Himalayan winds surpassing 260 km/h, the bridge is more than a structure—it is a declaration.

Taller than the Eiffel Tower, the bridge silently proclaims India’s engineering prowess and its national commitment to integrating the once-isolated valley into the mainstream development journey. Equally impressive is the Anji Khad Bridge, India’s first cable-stayed railway bridge, inaugurated on the same day.

Spanning the rugged topography of Reasi district, the bridge embodies the challenges that engineers had to overcome—landslides, steep gradients, volatile weather—and yet it now stands complete, ready to support the movement of people, goods, and dreams. Adding further substance to this momentous day, PM Modi flagged off two Vande Bharat Express trains between Katra and Srinagar.

These trains represent not only speed and modernity but also resilience. Specifically designed for the climatic extremities of Jammu and Kashmir, the trains feature heated windshields, robust thermal insulation, on-board Wi-Fi, and state-of-the-art safety mechanisms like Kavach. With a travel time reduced to approximately three hours, the Vande Bharat trains are expected to revolutionize regional mobility, serving thousands of pilgrims, tourists, traders, students, and healthcare seekers.

The announcement by Northern Railways that these trains would operate six days a week beginning June 7 further cemented their role as daily lifelines, not occasional luxuries. What stood out amid the applause and the camera flashes was the emotional weight of PM Modi’s speech. In the aftermath of the April 2025 Pahalgam terror attack, his visit was laced with a stern message for the enemy of peace that amid disruptions from time to time   asserted with unwavering conviction that development would not be allowed to stop.

His words carried not only political significance but also the emotional reassurance that the region, long caught in the crosshairs of conflict, would now breathe in the air of progress, connectivity, and inclusion. But June 6 was not just about railways but about the day’s itinerary included a series of announcements that fortified the government’s commitment to a holistic developmental push.

Road infrastructure saw major upgrades, with the widening of key roads such as the Rafiabad–Kupwara stretch and the construction of critical bypasses in districts like Shopian. The newly unveiled flyovers at Sangrama Baramulla and Bemina Junctions in Srinagar were received as practical solutions to the growing problem of urban congestion.

These developments are expected to not only reduce travel time but also boost local economies by improving access to markets, educational institutions, and healthcare facilities. Health care itself found strong mention in PM Modi’s agenda. The inauguration of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Institute of Medical Excellence, (SMVDSIME) a ₹350 crore medical college in Reasi district, was more than just a ribbon-cutting exercise.

It was a gesture that spoke volumes about the government’s long-term vision for human capital in the region. This institution is expected to offer top-tier medical education, generate employment for local youth, and enhance the quality of healthcare delivery for thousands of families in the region who otherwise had to travel far for basic and specialized treatments.

The combined valuation of all these projects—over ₹46,000 crore—reflects not just fiscal commitment but a political one. As Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw pointed out, the timely completion of USBRL was possible only because of PM Modi’s “steely determination.” Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha described the day as the true realization of the dream of connecting Jammu and Kashmir to Kanyakumari—a vision often spoken of but now tangibly underway.

Their remarks, echoed across the media, painted a picture of a region not just imagined as part of the national mainstream, but actively thriving within it. Global media, too, took note. The Associated Press termed the USBRL as a “landmark development with revolutionary potential,” especially for boosting tourism and reviving industry in the region.

As the sun set on June 6, it became clear that this was not a day of political theatre but a day of national reaffirmation. Through tracks, tunnels, and bridges, through medical campuses and widened highways, a loud and unmistakable message was sent across the valleys and beyond the borders.

Kashmir is not a peripheral outpost, but a vital node in India’s developmental trajectory. It is not a land of uncertainty, but one of unfolding opportunities. The symbolism of the USBRL whistling into motion and Vande Bharat trains gliding through once-inaccessible terrain cannot be overstated.

These are not mere mechanical achievements—they are transformative forces. They carry people to places they never thought they’d reach; they carry goods that fuel economies; and they carry hope, which once seemed distant in these valleys. And Finally, Prime Minister Modi’s June 6 visit was not just a page in the annals of administration, but a monumental act of national will.

It brought together vision, planning, and execution in a region long awaiting its share of the developmental dividend. With steel cutting through stone, and policy cutting through pessimism, the journey that began on the tracks of USBRL now points toward a future where Jammu and Kashmir is fully woven into the democratic, economic, and cultural fabric of India. And from that day forward, every whistle of the train will echo as a promise fulfilled.

The author can be reached at: ahmedfaraaz34@gmail.com