PM Modi to flag off Katra-Amritsar Vande Bharat Express tomorrow

Jammu, Aug 8: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will flag off the new Vande Bharat Express from Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra Railway Station of Jammu Division in Northern Railway to Amritsar Railway Station of Ferozepur Division on August 10, 2025, through video conferencing.

This Vande Bharat train will run six days a week, except Tuesday and will halt, on the way, at railway stations like Vyas, Jalandhar City, Pathankot Cantt and Jammu.

Senior Divisional Commercial Manager, Jammu Division, Uchit Singhal said, “The launch of the new Vande Bharat train is mainly aimed at providing a comfortable and faster travel experience to the passengers going to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra.”

He said that to commemorate the ensuing inauguration of the Vande Bharat train from Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra to Amritsar, a series of creative competitions were organised for school students in the Jammu Division of Northern Railway on Friday.

Students securing first, second and third positions by demonstrating creative skills in these competitions organised in various schools of the Jammu railway division will be felicitated during the inaugural ceremony of the Vande Bharat train on August 10, 2025.

“These competitions included painting, essay writing and poetry recitation. More than 450 students participated enthusiastically and showcased their patriotism, social consciousness and creativity through inspiring themes like ‘Swadeshi Ka Sankalp Station,’” he said.

Commenting on the success of the programme, Divisional Railway Manager, Jammu Division, Vivek Kumar said, “The students considered it a momentous occasion and participated in it with great pride and enthusiasm. The rapid introduction of Vande Bharat trains across the country not only symbolises a new momentum of progress for India but is also a historic step towards national development. We wanted to celebrate it ahead of the inaugural ceremony.”

The schools that participated in the programme were from Jammu, Katra, Pathankot and Samba.

These included Shaheed Makhan Singh Government Girls Senior Secondary School, Pathankot; BBN School, Vijaypur, Samba; New Shishu Vidya Mandir, Katra; Amba Kids School, Panthal, Katra and Dewan Devi Higher Secondary School, Jammu.

Senior Divisional Commercial Manager, Jammu division said, “The aim of the programme was not just a competition but to provide a platform to the children to express their thoughts, feelings and dreams through words and colours.”

Speaking about these competitions, Senior Divisional Personnel Officer, Jammu, Seema Verma said, “This event not only became a medium to showcase the talent of the children but also became an inspiring example of creative collaboration between Railways and society.”