Prime Minister Narendra Modi Accelerated Rail Expansion Beyond Jammu Says Dr Jitendra Singh

JAMMU, April 30, 2026 — Union Minister Jitendra Singh highlighted today that while rail services reached Jammu in 1972, the expansion into the Kashmir Valley only gained significant momentum after Prime Minister Narendra Modi took office in 2014.

Speaking at the Jammu Railway Station during the flagging-off ceremony of the augmented 20-coach Jammu–Srinagar Vande Bharat Express, the Minister noted that the last decade has seen railway infrastructure in Jammu and Kashmir reach parity with the rest of the nation.

The event, attended by Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, celebrated the fulfillment of a long-standing aspiration for direct rail connectivity between Jammu and Srinagar, which is expected to enhance logistics efficiency and the ease of doing business throughout the Union Territory.

The Minister emphasized that this improved connectivity will lead to a substantial rise in pilgrim inflow and facilitate the seamless movement of security personnel while integrating local economies with national markets. By reducing travel time and transportation costs for local produce, the rail link serves as a vital economic driver for the region.

Jitendra Singh also pointed out the tourism and cultural potential of the corridor, which passes through picturesque locations like Sangaldan that were previously difficult to access, potentially reviving the region’s legacy as a top destination for filmmakers.

Following the ceremony, the Minister traveled to the Chenab and Anji bridges, describing the Himalayan rail link as a world-class technological feat that will serve as a pilot model for future projects in other mountainous states like Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh.