March 27, 2025: Kashmir valley is on the cusp of a major milestone- its first ever train service. Come April 19, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to flag off the inaugural train from Katra to Sri Nagar. This special train, a Bande Bharat express, promises to be a game-changer for the region.

But that’s not all. PM Modi’s itinerary for the day also includes a visit to the World’s highest Chenab rail bridge, an engineering marvel that’s a testament to India’s infrastructure prowess. Additionally, he will address a public rally in Katra, where several top dignitaries will join him. These include railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh, Jammu and Kashmir CM Omar Abdullah among others.

Initially, the train service will operate between Katra and Sri Nagar/Baramulla. However, with the expansion work at Jammu and Kashmir railway station slated for completion by August, the train is expected to run from Jammu to Sri Nagar/Baramulla, providing a major connectivity boost to the region. One thing to note though, there won’t be a direct train service from Delhi to Sri Nagar just yet.