Latest news with #USBRL
India.com
12-06-2025
- Politics
- India.com
Vande Bharat BIG Update: After Katra-Srinagar, Indian Railways to run new Vande Bharat from Mumbai to…, check details here
Image for representational purposes New Delhi: Indian Railways has witnessed massive transformation in the last 11 years under the Narendra Modi government. The Central government has implemented a slew of programs that have changed the face of the sector. From redevelopment of platforms to 100 percent electrification of railway tracks, the government has been working relentlessly to make the traveling experience of the passengers comfortable and convenient. Over the past decade, the Indian Railways has launched many new trains like Vande Bharat. Earlier this month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the 272 kilometres long Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Railway Link (USBRL) project in Jammu & Kashmir. As part of the launch, PM Modi also inaugurated the Chenab railway bridge, Anji Khad railway bridge and flag off two pairs of new Vande Bharat train services as well. With this inauguration, Kashmir finally gets all-weather railway connectivity with the rest of India. Indian Railways will commence regular operations of the two new Vande Bharat Express trains to Kashmir from June 7, 2025 – a day after PM Modi's inauguration of train services to Kashmir. Now, according to the reports, a new Vande Bharat train will run between Chhatrapati Shahu Terminus and Mumbai. A demand in this regard was made in the Zonal Railway Passenger Advisory Committee meeting, as per the report by Saam. Here are some of the important details: This train is likely to start running from the terminus in the next fifteen days. It is important to note that there are a large number of people traveling between Kolhapur and Mumbai, but there are no trains for the journey, which is causing problems for many. Currently, the Vande Bharat train is running between Pune and Kolhapur. Railway Advisory Committee member Shivnath Biyani reiterated the demand for Kolhapur-Mumbai Vande Bharat Railway in the meeting. Currently, the Vande Bharat train is running from Kolhapur to Pune. The new Vande Bharat train will have eight coaches and will carry 550 passengers. This train was inaugurated on September 16, 2024 through video conferencing in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. It runs three days a week, on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays. It has eight coaches, including AC Chair Car and AC Executive Chair Car. However, since this train only runs up to Pune, there was a constant demand from traders, employees and passengers to take it to Mumbai.
Time of India
12-06-2025
- Time of India
Sold out: Kashmir Vande Bharat fully booked for next 10 days after launch
India's new Katra–Srinagar Vande Bharat Express has been an instant hit. It has been receiving overwhelming response, with all seats getting sold out soon. According to the railway authorities, bookings for the train are full for the next 10 days. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Speaking to the media, Station Superintendent at Mata Vaishno Devi Katra Railway Station, Jugal Kishor Sharma, added that the response they are getting for the train has already exceeded their expectations. "We are receiving a very good response from the public for the Vande Bharat Express, which was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. People are very excited, and there are no seats available for the next 10 days," Sharma said. Flagged off by Prime Minister Modi on June 6, this iconic express runs on the newly completed Udhampur–Srinagar–Baramulla Railway Link, a 272 km engineering marvel featuring 36 tunnels and 943 bridges—including the world's tallest railway arch, the Chenab Bridge—surpassing even the Eiffel Tower in height. The route dramatically enhances Kashmir's all-season connectivity, historically hampered by landslides and snow on the Jammu–Srinagar highway. Read more: Designed for the Himalayan harsh weather This special train isn't the usual standard Vande Bharat. The train has been designed for sub-zero Kashmir weather, and comes equipped with heated windshields, insulated toilets, and advanced heating systems that fight frost even at –20 °C. Reports add that the train will be operating six days a week (excluding Tuesday/Wednesday maintenance), and will be making the Katra–Srinagar journey in just three hours, which is a massive time-saver. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Why the rush? Speed & convenience: Halving travel time compared to winding highway drives. Scenic & safe: A picturesque ride across the Chenab Bridge and through snow-laden tunnels. First-mover appeal: Premier access to a new train service sparks strong demand. Officials noted that the rail link now ensures that Kashmir won't be 'cut off' during bad weather—a frequent issue along NH44. Read more: With daily services fully booked, pressure is mounting on Indian Railways to add more rakes or increase frequency. Discussions are underway to boost capacity and meet demand . Plus, the USBRL is expected to drive long-term economic benefits by promoting tourism, trade, and local industry through improved mobility. The Katra–Srinagar Vande Bharat has quickly become the transport of choice for Kashmir-bound travelers. Its pioneering service, scenic route, and cutting-edge tech have created a buzz—and with tickets gone in a flash, it's clear this is a train people are eager to ride.
News18
12-06-2025
- Business
- News18
Next Stop Aizawl, Kohima: Railways Shifts Focus To Northeast After Linking Srinagar & Rameswaram
Last Updated: The last time a north-eastern capital received railway connectivity was in 2016, when trains reached Tripura's Agartala through Broad Gauge After connecting Srinagar in Jammu and Kashmir and restoring rail services to Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu, the Indian Railways has now shifted its focus to the Northeast. Mizoram's capital Aizawl is set to join the railway map soon, becoming the fourth north-eastern capital after Assam, Tripura, and Arunachal Pradesh to be linked to the national rail network. While the date for commercial operations on the Bairabi–Sairang line under the Northeast Frontier Railway is yet to be finalised, the necessary approvals have been received. This milestone was achieved after the last section between Sairang and Hortoki received operational clearance. The total length of the Bairabi–Sairang railway line project is about 52 km, of which approximately 17 km—between Bairabi and Hortoki—has been operational since July 2024. Now, approvals have been granted for the 33.86 km stretch between Hortoki and Sairang, which lies about 20 km from Aizawl. While the majority of mainland India and its capitals are served by a dense railway network, many parts of the Northeast and Kashmir had long been waiting. Srinagar's wait ended last week with the inauguration of the completed Udhampur–Srinagar–Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project. In April, the new Pamban bridge was inaugurated, restoring train connectivity to Rameswaram after more than two years. The old bridge was declared unsafe for train operations, and constructing the new bridge amid unpredictable sea weather was a major challenge. Broad Gauge for Northeast After completing the long-pending Srinagar and Pamban bridge projects, the next major goal for Indian Railways is connecting more north-eastern states. The Bairabi–Sairang project poses several engineering challenges. It includes 48 tunnels stretching a total of 13 km and 142 bridges, 55 of which are classified as major. One of the bridges is 104 meters high—42 meters taller than the Qutub Minar. The Northeast Frontier Railway serves the region, covering Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura, Meghalaya, and Sikkim. The last time a north-eastern capital received railway connectivity was in 2016, when trains reached Tripura's Agartala through Broad Gauge. In April 2014, the first passenger train reached Naharlagun, bringing Itanagar — the capital of Arunachal Pradesh — onto the BG railway map of India. Guwahati was the first among the eight north-eastern states to receive train connectivity. Next Stations: Kohima and Imphal With Aizawl almost connected, Indian Railways is now looking toward Nagaland and Manipur. In Nagaland, the Dimapur–Kohima line has crossed the 60 per cent completion mark, with trains expected to reach Kohima by 2029. In Manipur, the Jiribam–Imphal railway line is being developed in phases. The 55-km stretch from Jiribam to Khongsang became operational in 2022–23. However, work on the remaining section has slowed due to ongoing unrest in the state. Train to Sikkim Among the eight north-eastern states, seven have rail connectivity as of date. Sikkim remains the exception with no train services currently operating within the state. A new line between Sivok and Rangpo in Sikkim is under construction. Of its total 44.96 km length, 38.65 km (86 per cent) lies in 14 tunnels, while 2.24 km (5 per cent) is in bridges. Last month, the government announced that this rail line had made significant progress and would be operational soon. Earlier this year, Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma announced that the Centre has asked the state to return Rs 270 crore allocated for land acquisition for the stalled Byrnihat-Shillong railway project because of delay in commissioning the task. The 108-km Byrnihat-Shillong railway project has been on hold since 2016-17 due to strong opposition from local groups, who fear it could lead to an influx of outsiders. As Indian Railways races to bridge the last gaps, the dream of a fully connected India edges closer to reality—from the Himalayas to the Northeast, and from sea to summit. Get breaking news, in-depth analysis, and expert perspectives on everything from politics to crime and society. Stay informed with the latest India news only on News18. Download the News18 App to stay updated! tags : aizawl Indian Railways Kohima manipur meghalaya Rameswaram srinagar Tripura Location : New Delhi, India, India First Published: June 12, 2025, 08:56 IST
Hans India
12-06-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
MyVoice: Views of our readers 12th June 2025
Kashmir's rail revolution The launch of the Vande Bharat Express to Kashmir is a monumental achievement, showcasing the Union Government's unwavering resolve and grit. The Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project, despite being a challenging endeavour, has been successfully completed. This rail revolution will have a profound impact on the valley, fostering economic development, improving connectivity, and bridging distances. It will open doors to new opportunities, connecting local artisans, apple growers and carpet weavers to markets beyond the valley. In turn, this will widen their reach, while also boosting revenue from exports. The government's determination to complete this project will undoubtedly shape the destiny of the population. Raju Kolluru, Kakinada Railways new initiative is praiseworthy The pilot project initiated by Indian Railways whereby it will release passenger charts with confirmed seats 24 hours ahead of the scheduled departure of trains is a welcome move. At present, the final chart is prepared four hours prior to a train's departure. Though it is only a trial measure being undertaken in the Bikaner division of the Western Railway zone, railway authorities have promised to extend it to other divisions once they see the feasibility reports. This initiative will certainly reduce travel-related anxiety and stress among the passengers. Moreover, those whose tickets are not confirmed in the advanced chart as per the new arrangement, can reschedule their journey according to availability of tickets in other modes of transport. Hope the government will implement this new system across all divisions, sooner the better. S. Sankaranarayanan, Anna Nagar, Chennai-40 India's silence is baffling The reluctance of the Indian government to protest the unilateralism of Trump's America is raising a lot of questions about the attitude of the government as regards protecting our interests. The video of a student treated like a dangerous criminal and handcuffed after being made to lie on the ground has raised serious questions which the Modi government must answer. The charade of being good friends with Trump must end and it's time the Indian public put pressure on the government to retaliate against this treatment and call a spade a spade instead of trying to beat around the bush in trying to give the American government a way out! Anthony Henriques, Mumbai Low fertility rate as the growth indices India's fertility rate has fallen below the replacement level, reaching 1.9 births per woman, below the 2.1 threshold. It is good for the country, which is the most populous in the world. India accounts for 17.78per cent of the world's population, with land area covering only 2.4 per cent of the Earth's total surface leading to high population density, with 492 people per square kilometre. Therefore, it is rather beneficial for the country in many ways. A lower fertility rate can ease strain on resources, infrastructure, and environmental sustainability and facilitate better healthcare, education, and economic stability, as families can invest more in fewer children leading to improved quality of life. Also, job opportunities increase, reducing the unemployment rate. But it has challenges too. Over time, fewer births may lead to an older population, increasing the burden on healthcare and pensions and may face labour shortages that can affect productivity. Some states still have high fertility rates while others are well below replacement, creating uneven demographic shifts. The key is balanced population management, ensuring economic, social and environmental sustainability and good health for all. Dr O Prasada Rao, Hyderabad
The Hindu
11-06-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Connecting bridge: on Kashmir, India and the Chenab Rail Bridge
'Kashmir to Kanniyakumari' is a figurative expression to denote the geographical expanse of India, from its northernmost point to its southern tip, and for the first time in history these are connected by rail. With the inauguration of the 272-kilometre Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project which has been 28 years in the making, the Kashmir Valley has been connected to the national rail network. The tough, unsurmountable topography of the Himalayas challenged the engineering capabilities of the Indian Railways, but it has come out with flying colours. The engineering marvel, the Chenab Rail Bridge, that stands 35 metres higher than the Eiffel Tower, is the world's highest railway arch bridge at 359 metres above the riverbed. Spanning 1,315 m, it will endure wind speeds of up to 260 km per hour and has been built to last 120 years. Nearby, the Anji Khad Bridge, rises boldly across the rugged terrain as India's first cable-stayed railway bridge. Towering 331 m above the riverbed and stretching 725 m across, it is anchored by 96 high-tensile cables; 8,200 metric tonnes of structural steel went into its construction. Built at a cost of ₹43,780 crore, the USBRL link witnessed drilling of mountains to set up 36 tunnels that span 119 kilometres and 943 bridges through ridges and mountain passes. Kashmir's decades of geographical isolation have finally come to an end. The Vande Bharat Express between Srinagar in the Kashmir region and Katra in the Jammu region, which was also flagged off by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, cuts the surface journey to three hours between the two points. Later this year, a scheduled direct train service between the national capital New Delhi and Srinagar will allow commuters to touch base in just 13 hours compared to over 24 hours in the past. The Vande Bharat Express, a long-distance high-speed service, is bound to end the psychological barriers, multiply the development dividend and act as a game changer for the economy of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K). The train service has brought renewed hope to the region not long after the Pahalgam terror attack in April 2025 pushed India and Pakistan to a short conflict. India's 'Operation Sindoor', against terror infrastructure across the border, saw Pakistan ending the ceasefire agreement and targeting civilians, leaving 18 dead and over 1,500 houses damaged. While inaugurating the train service in Katra, Mr. Modi rightly described the rail link as 'a symbol of a new, empowered J&K'. The bridge will go a long way to bring the people of Kashmir closer to the rest of India.
