Indian Railways will introduce Vande Bharat Express and Vande Metro on its new rail network in Jammu and Kashmir, Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced on Sunday (26 March).

Vaishnaw also announced that the Vande Metro will join Jammu and Srinagar when the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail link Project (USBRL) is fully functional.

Speaking to the media from the construction site of the Chenab river bridge, Vaishnaw shared that the USBRL project is expected to be completed by December 2023 or January 2024, reports Economic Times.

Furthermore, he revealed that plans are in place to run a Vande Bharat Express once the railway line becomes operational.

To ensure smooth operations of Vande Bharat trains, maintenance facilities will be established in Badgam, Jammu and Kashmir.

Additionally, the Chenab bridge will undergo electrification soon, and it will be equipped with the indigenous Kavach anti-collision system.

The Chenab river bridge boasts of being the highest railway bridge globally, standing 359 metres above the river bed. Recently, the track laying process on the bridge was successfully accomplished.

The Railways Minister inspected the railway tracks on a track mounted vehicle.

Serving as a vital link in the 111 km distance from Katra to Banihal, the 1.3 kilometre long bridge holds immense significance.

The Chenab Bridge projects has been executed by Konkan Railway Corporation Ltd at an estimated cost of Rs 1,486 crore, and is built to withstand wind speeds of 266 kmph, be blast-proof, and endure severe earthquakes.