Reasi (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], June 10 (ANI): Jammu and Kashmir Minister Satish Sharma on Tuesday took a ride in the newly flagged off Vande Bharat train from Srinagar to Katra.

He termed it a 'historic moment', saying that the long-pending demand of the people of Jammu and Kashmir has been fulfilled now.

Highlighting the importance of this train, the Minister said that it will help to break the monopoly of airlines, offering the public more accessible and affordable travel options.

Speaking to ANI, Sharma said, 'This is a historic moment that we are travelling by train. This was a long-pending demand -- finally fulfilled. The valley has now been connected to the rest of the country. This project had been underway for many years. As the Chief Minister himself recalled, he was just a child when he first dreamed of travelling by train. He was part of the team when the foundation was laid and again held office when the project was completed. This connectivity will benefit tourists, devotees, patients, and traders alike. It will also help break the monopoly of airlines, offering the public more accessible and affordable travel options.'

Sharma was accompanying National Conference chief Farooq Abdullah.

Meanwhile, Abdullah said that the Vande Bharat trains on the USBRL route (Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla rail link) are the 'biggest gift' for the people of Jammu and Kashmir as it connects the territory with the entire country.

Speaking to reporters, the NC chief said that his eyes became 'teary' after the train crossed the Chenab Bridge.

Notably, the bridge on the River Chenab, being the highest bridge in the world, is a milestone project for the Indian Railways, which was completed after several ups and downs in a difficult terrain. It connects Kashmir to Jammu and the entire country via rail.

'This is the biggest gift to connect Jammu and Kashmir with the entire country... I had tears in my eyes when I crossed the Chenab Bridge. Finally, the day has come when we can travel to the country from Kashmir by train. I want to congratulate all the workers and engineers who built this bridge...' he said.

The former J-K Chief Minister also expressed his heartfelt gratitude to all the engineers and workers of the Indian Railways who had worked hard on this project.

The two Vande Bharat Express trains from Katra Railway Station, directly connecting the Jammu division with Kashmir, were flagged off by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on June 6.

The new Vande Bharat Express train will take just about three hours to travel between Katra and Srinagar, reducing the existing travel time by two to three hours. These trains have been specially designed to operate in the cold climatic conditions of the Kashmir Valley.

The train will run through the Anji Khad Bridge, which is India's first cable-stayed railway bridge, and the Chenab Bridge, which is the highest railway arch bridge in the world.

The USBRL project is 272 kilometres long, constructed worth around Rs 43,780 crore, includes 36 tunnels (spanning 119 km) and 943 bridges. The project establishes all-weather, seamless rail connectivity between the Kashmir Valley and the rest of the country, aiming to transform regional mobility and drive socio-economic integration. (ANI)