Srinagar-Jammu Vande Bharat Launch Postponed: Railways Cites 'Unavoidable Circumstances'
The Vande Bharat Express launch between Srinagar and Jammu is delayed.
Top Summary
- What happened: The launch of the Vande Bharat Express connecting Srinagar and Jammu, initially scheduled for March 1st, has been postponed.
- Why it matters: This train service is highly anticipated as it aims to improve connectivity between the two capital cities of Jammu and Kashmir.
- What changes for people: The seamless rail connectivity between Kashmir and the rest of India is delayed. Passengers will continue to experience transshipment at Katra.
- Who is affected: Travelers between Srinagar and Jammu, and those seeking direct rail access between Kashmir and other parts of India are impacted.
Vande Bharat Launch Delayed
The Indian Railways has announced the postponement of the Vande Bharat Express launch between Srinagar and Jammu.
The service was originally slated to begin on March 1st.
A senior Railway officer stated that the postponement is due to some "unavoidable circumstances."
Demand for Connectivity
Extending rail service between Srinagar-Katra to Jammu is a major demand.
It aims to connect the two capital cities of J&K.
It also seeks to provide Kashmir with seamless rail connectivity with the rest of the country.
Earlier Launch and Coach Increase
The Srinagar-Katra Vande Bharat train service was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in June of last year.
Northern Railways had announced increasing the number of coaches of the Vande Bharat train to 20 from the existing eight between Katra and Srinagar to improve accessibility.
Transshipment Continues
Regular rail services currently only reach upto Katra.
Passengers traveling to or from Srinagar must undergo transshipment at the station.
While transshipment will continue even after the Srinagar-Katra Vande Bharat train is extended up to Jammu, it's seen as a step closer to achieving a direct train service between Srinagar and Delhi.
"Due to some unavoidable circumstances, the notification programme of Vande Bharat extension from March 1 has been put on hold by the Railway Board till further advice," said a senior Railway officer.
What to Watch Next
The Railway Board is expected to announce a new launch date for the Srinagar-Jammu Vande Bharat Express. Further updates regarding the coach augmentation for the Katra-Srinagar route are also anticipated.