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<p data-start="66" data-end="514"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Prime Minister Narendra Modi&rsquo;s visit to Jammu and Kashmir today is being hailed as a historic moment, with the region preparing to witness a major boost in connectivity and development. As the PM inaugurates and lays the foundation for projects worth ₹46,000 crore, the spotlight is on the launch of the Vande Bharat train service from Katra to Srinagar &mdash; a milestone that fulfills a decades-long dream for the people of the Valley.</span></p>
<p data-start="516" data-end="873"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">For over 70 years, the journey from Kashmir to the rest of India remained difficult and uncertain. The Jammu-Srinagar highway, often disrupted by landslides and adverse weather, has long been a source of frustration. Now, with the start of regular train services, residents are hopeful for a future marked by reliable transportation and economic upliftment.</span></p>
<p data-start="875" data-end="1285"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">The new rail link is expected to transform the movement of goods and people. Local artisans and farmers &mdash; producing items like shawls, carpets, fruits, and walnut wood &mdash; will benefit from lower transportation costs and quicker access to markets across India. &ldquo;For future generations, the struggle of getting goods out of the Valley will be a thing of the past,&rdquo; said Abdul Salam Mir, a businessman in Srinagar.</span></p>
<p data-start="1287" data-end="1547"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">The train service also promises ease for students, patients, professionals, and tourists, offering comfortable, affordable, and predictable travel. For those in the Valley and beyond, this is more than infrastructure &mdash; it&rsquo;s a symbol of connection and progress.</span></p>
<p data-start="1549" data-end="1877" data-is-last-node="" data-is-only-node=""><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Krishen Chand, a resident of Katra, remarked that the Kashmir-to-Kanyakumari rail link sends a strong message of unity and national integration. With security arrangements in full force, the people of J&amp;K are optimistic that the Prime Minister&rsquo;s visit will mark the beginning of a transformative chapter in the region&rsquo;s journey.<br><br>Except for the headline, this article has not been edited by the Benefit News editorial team and is published directly from the IANS news feed.</span></p>
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Kashmir-Katra Vande Bharat Train Inaugurated by PM Narendra Modi

Historic rail link from Katra to Srinagar ushers in new era of connectivity and development in J&K

PM Modi Flags Off Vande Bharat in Kashmir

Historic rail link from Katra to Srinagar ushers in new era of connectivity and development in J&K

June 6, 2025 | 16:11 IST