Vande Bharat: Resilient Rails Transforming Jammu & Kashmir Transport

The Vande Bharat train services in Jammu and Kashmir have been specially designed to endure harsh winter and high-altitude conditions. Following natural calamities in 2022, about 90% of services have resumed. The trains play a crucial role in local transportation, aiding regional trade and emergency response.

The Vande Bharat train services, specifically engineered to withstand Jammu and Kashmir's severe winter and high-altitude landscape, have become increasingly popular among travelers, as per Jammu Divisional Railway Manager Vivek Kumar. The Srinagar-Katra line is particularly in demand, with nearly 90% of services resumed after last year's natural disasters.

Plans are underway to restore crucial routes like the Jammu-Delhi line by May, following the completion of track restoration between Jammu and Pathankot. The trains have also proved indispensable during emergencies, such as heavy snowfall, maintaining connectivity when roads were impassable.

Efforts extend to aiding the apple industry by facilitating the transport of 20,000 tonnes of apples during market panics caused by floods. Various commodities, including cement, steel, and food grains, are regularly transported, enhancing regional trade and resilience.

(With inputs from agencies.)