Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday lauded the arrival of the first freight train to the Kashmir Valley, marking a significant milestone in connecting the region to the national freight network.
Responding to a post by Union Minister for Railways, Communications and Electronics & IT, Ashwini Vaishnaw, the Prime Minister said the development will enhance both progress and prosperity in Jammu and Kashmir.
In a post on X, the Prime Minister said, “Great day for commerce and connectivity in Jammu and Kashmir! It will enhance both progress and prosperity.”
Earlier in a post on X, Vaishnaw said, “First freight train to the Kashmir valley:
– Today (9.8.2025) first freight train reached newly commissioned Anantnag Goods Shed in the Kashmir Valley from Punjab, marking a significant milestone in connecting the Kashmir region to the national freight network.
– Transportation by railway network will reduce cost for our citizens living in Kashmir valley.”
As a historical milestone in goods transportation of Kashmir, the first freight train reached Jammu and Kashmir’s Anantnag town on Saturday. This also marks the operational debut of the Banihal-Sangaldan-Reasi-Katra section of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project.
The development on Saturday integrates Kashmir Valley with the Indian Railways freight corridor enabling the direct movement of goods from across the country into the Valley and vice versa.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will virtually flag off Vande Bharat Express train between Amritsar and Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra on August 10.
Local economy is definite to receive a great boost as the cost of transport of goods will come down appreciably in addition to completely addressing the uncertainty of goods movement through the Srinagar-Jammu highway which is prone to closures due to shooting stones, mudslides and earth caving-in accidents.
The arrival of the goods train will ensure round the year movement of merchandise from outside the Kashmir Valley and the transport of Valley’s huge horticultural produce including apples, etc.
Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project of total length 272 Km has been recently commissioned. The USBRL project covers the districts of Udhampur, Reasi, Ramban, Srinagar, Anantnag, Pulwama, Budgam and Baramulla of Jammu and Kashmir.
The USBRL project is one of the most difficult new railway line projects undertaken in the country post-independence. The terrain passes through young Himalayas, which are full of geological surprises and numerous problems. In this project, Railway has made the world’s highest Railway Bridge over Chenab river in Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir.
The iconic Chenab Bridge is 1315 m long having an arch span of 467 m and height of 359 m above river bed. Indian Railways first cable-stayed bridge has been constructed over Anji Khad in this project. Its bridge deck is 331m above the river bed level and height of its Main pylon is 193m.