New Delhi, July 27, 2025 : The Ministry of Railways has announced that the upgradation of all passenger coaches operating in the Kashmir Valley will be completed by August 31, 2025. With this, every rake in service will be fully renovated and modernized.
This development follows the historic inauguration of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Railway Line—including the iconic Chenab and Anji bridges—by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on June 6, 2025. The project marks a crucial step in connecting the Kashmir Valley with the rest of the Indian Railways network.
The newly operational Vande Bharat Express between Katra and Srinagar has already become a vital transport link in the region.
Earlier, due to the lack of direct rail connectivity, DEMU/MEMU coaches in the Valley could not undergo regular maintenance. However, with the Jammu-Srinagar rail link now functional, track maintenance machines and upgraded infrastructure have reached the region, replacing manual methods with modern track machines.
The ministry stated that this change is drastically improving track quality in the Valley. Nationally, 78% of Indian rail tracks now support speeds of 110 kmph or more, a sharp rise from 39% in 2014. Simultaneously, the total track length has expanded from 79,342 km in 2014 to over 1 lakh km in 2025.
Union Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw emphasized a focus on modernizing track technology and maintenance, including the deployment of AI-driven defect detection systems, ultrasound fracture detection, and integrated track measurement machines. He also noted that these innovations will enhance safety and ease the workload for railway staff.
