JK News Today: ‘Mata Ne Bulaya Hai’: Farooq Abdullah Hails Vande Bharat As A ‘Historic Gift’ To J&K
JK News Today: National Conference president and former Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah was visibly moved on Tuesday as he stepped off the Vande Bharat Express at Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra station, calling the newly operational high-speed rail link a “historic gift” that finally connects the Valley with the rest of India through rail.
Abdullah had boarded the sleek, blue-and-white semi-high-speed train from Nowgam Railway Station in Srinagar earlier in the day. As the train passed over the iconic Chenab Rail Bridge — the highest railway arch bridge in the world — the seasoned leader confessed to an emotional moment.
“Tears welled up in my eyes when we crossed the Chenab Bridge,” he told reporters at the Katra station. “It’s a dream come true. For the first time, Kashmir is truly connected to the country by rail.”
The Vande Bharat service is now running along the USBRL (Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link) corridor, a 272-km engineering marvel that has overcome formidable terrain and decades of political and logistical hurdles. The project includes 36 tunnels stretching 119 km and 943 bridges — all built at a cost of around ₹43,780 crore. Among its many highlights are two feats of modern engineering: the Anji Khad Bridge, India’s first cable-stayed railway bridge, and the Chenab Bridge, soaring 359 metres above the riverbed and capable of withstanding extreme seismic activity and high winds.
“This train isn’t just about transportation,” Abdullah said. “It’s about transformation — for tourism, for trade, for our economy. Our goods will now reach Kanniyakumari, Patna, Kolkata, Mumbai, and beyond. This opens doors we only dreamed of before.”
The senior leader also extended heartfelt thanks to the engineers and workers who brought the dream to life, acknowledging the long journey the project has taken through successive governments.
“It started as a vision of Atal Bihari Vajpayee, was advanced by Manmohan Singh, and completed under Prime Minister Modi. It’s a collective achievement — and I salute every hand that built it.”
The emotional resonance of Abdullah’s statement captures the historic weight of this moment for the region. For decades, the Kashmir Valley remained largely isolated in terms of rail access, with harsh weather often severing road links during winter.
Specially designed to endure Kashmir’s cold climate, these Vande Bharat trains are expected to become a lifeline for residents and a game-changer for local industries. The enhanced connectivity is poised to fuel tourism, boost local trade, and embed Kashmir more deeply into India’s economic fabric. “This is more than steel and rail,” Abdullah concluded. “This is hope — roaring across bridges and through tunnels — finally bringing Kashmir closer to India, not just in miles, but in spirit.”
Now, with the launch of two Vande Bharat Express trains from Katra — flagged off by Prime Minister Modi on June 6 — that isolation is beginning to fade. The travel time between Srinagar and Katra has been slashed by nearly three hours, making the journey not only faster but more reliable, even in snowfall-prone months.
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