Just three days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off two Vande Bharat trains between Mata Vaishno Devi Katra and Srinagar, senior National Conference leader and former Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah boarded the new service—and gave it a glowing endorsement.

Farooq Abdullah Enjoys First Ride on Srinagar-Katra Vande Bharat Train

On Tuesday, Farooq Abdullah boarded the Vande Bharat Express from Srinagar’s Nowgam station to Katra. Expressing his satisfaction, Abdullah said, “I am very happy that I am travelling by this train to Katra today. This is the biggest benefit for us.”

He added that the train will greatly benefit both locals and tourists by offering reliable and cost-effective travel. “Most of the time, airfares are too high. Now, people won’t have to worry about it,” he noted.

“A Big Relief from Airline Loot”: Abdullah Criticizes Rising Airfares

The former CM also highlighted the growing burden of air travel in the region. “When roads between Srinagar and Jammu are closed due to weather, people are forced to rely on airlines. But they charge exorbitantly. This train will break that monopoly,” Abdullah said.

A Boost for Horticulture and Tourism

Abdullah further said that beyond easing passenger travel, the new train service will help the valley’s horticulture sector by ensuring faster and more reliable transportation of produce to markets. “Our apples and other goods will now reach outside markets without delay,” he remarked.

PM Modi Flagged Off the Historic Train on June 6

On June 6, 2025, PM Modi flagged off Kashmir’s first Vande Bharat Express from Katra, linking it directly to Srinagar for the first time. The train is specially designed to function smoothly even in the region’s extreme cold and snowfall.

The high-speed train has already cut travel time between Srinagar and Katra to just 3 hours—a significant improvement over the long, winding road journey.