Kashmir Impulse Desk
New Delhi, Oct 17
Jammu and Kashmir is expanding its railway, road and aviation infrastructure in an effort to improve year-round connectivity, support tourism and make it easier for local businesses to transport goods to markets elsewhere in India.
The Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link, inaugurated in June 2025, connected Kashmir to the national railway network after decades of construction through difficult Himalayan terrain, according to the Press Information Bureau.
The 272-km project cost Rs 43,780 crore and includes 36 tunnels spanning 119 km and 943 bridges. Its key structures include the Chenab Rail Bridge in Reasi district, which stands 359 metres above the riverbed, and the Anji Khad Bridge, India’s first cable-stayed railway bridge.
The Vande Bharat Express service between Katra and Srinagar began in June 2025 and was extended to Jammu Tawi in April 2026, strengthening rail links between the Jammu and Kashmir regions.
Four stations – Budgam, Jammu Tawi, Udhampur and Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra – are also being upgraded under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme.
Road projects are intended to reduce disruptions caused by snowfall, avalanches and landslides, particularly on routes connecting Kashmir with Ladakh.
The 6.4-km Sonamarg tunnel, inaugurated in January 2025 at a cost of more than Rs 2700 crore, is designed to provide all-weather access to Sonamarg.
Work is also progressing on the 13.153-km Zojila tunnel between Baltal and Minamarg on National Highway 1. The project, costing Rs 6808 crore, achieved its main tunnel breakthrough in June 2026.
Once completed, it is expected to reduce travel time between Sonamarg and Minamarg from about two hours to roughly 30 minutes. Planned safety systems include ventilation, fire detection and suppression equipment, and CCTV surveillance.
Other road initiatives include the Delhi-Amritsar-Katra Expressway, improvements to the Rafiabad-Kupwara highway and Shopian bypass, and 110 rural road projects covering nearly 598.5 km launched under the fourth phase of the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana in August 2026.
The Centre approved Rs 1677 crore in February 2026 to expand the civil enclave at Srinagar International Airport.
The proposed 71,500-square-metre terminal is designed to handle up to 2900 passengers during peak hours and 10 million passengers annually. Plans also include 15 aircraft parking bays and a multi-level car park with space for 1000 vehicles.
Regional aviation facilities are proposed at Udhampur and Kishtwar under the UDAN scheme.
Freight infrastructure is also being expanded. A multimodal cargo terminal commissioned in Samba in 2024 is operational, while in-principle approvals have been granted for three more in Kathua, Anantnag and Jammu districts.
The facilities are intended to improve the transport of apples, dry fruits, saffron, pashmina and handicrafts, while supporting access to warehousing and cold storage.
The scale of the projects marks a major expansion of the region’s transport network. Their economic impact will depend on reliable services, affordable transport and whether farmers, small businesses and residents can make effective use of the new infrastructure.
