A day after visiting the revered Vaishno Devi shrine in Katra, Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (NC) chief Farooq Abdullah said he had a fulfilling "darshan" and offered prayers for the region's peace, prosperity, and unity. “I had a meaningful darshan and prayed for development, harmony, and brotherhood. We all wish for India’s growth, so we too can be part of that journey,” said the former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir.

Abdullah also expressed satisfaction with the newly launched Vande Bharat train service connecting Srinagar to Katra. “I’m very pleased with this new rail service. It will allow more devotees to visit Maa Vaishno Devi and will significantly boost tourism,” he told ANI. He described the Vande Bharat trains on the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) as a monumental development, calling it the “biggest gift” for the people of Jammu and Kashmir as it links the region with the rest of the nation.

Abdullah traveled on the Vande Bharat Express from Nowgam (Srinagar) to Katra and shared an emotional moment from the journey. “My eyes welled up as we crossed the Chenab Bridge. This is a historic moment—finally, we can travel by train from Kashmir to the rest of India. I salute the engineers and workers who made this possible,” he said.

On June 6, Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off two Vande Bharat trains connecting the Jammu division to Kashmir from Katra Railway Station. These high-speed trains reduce travel time between Katra and Srinagar by nearly three hours and are equipped to handle the extreme climate of the Kashmir Valley. The route includes the Anji Khad Bridge—India’s first cable-stayed railway bridge—and the Chenab Bridge, which is the world’s highest railway arch bridge, standing 359 metres above the Chenab River. This engineering marvel spans 1,315 metres and is built to endure seismic and wind challenges.

The USBRL project, spanning 272 km and costing approximately ₹43,780 crore, includes 36 tunnels (totalling 119 km) and 943 bridges. It provides year-round, seamless rail connectivity between Kashmir and the rest of India, aiming to enhance regional connectivity and spur socio-economic development.