"Big Gift For J&K Development": Amit Shah Flags Off Vande Bharat Express

The Vande Bharat Express – India’s fastest train – from Delhi to Katra in Jammu is “a big gift” for Jammu and Kashmir’s development and for promoting religious tourism, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said today while flagging off the train from the capital.
The high-speed train will bring down the travel time between Delhi and Katra, the last station on the way to Vaishno Devi temple, to eight hours from the current 12 hours. The train’s commercial run will begin from Saturday and bookings are open.

This is the second Vande Bharat Express, the first runs between Delhi and Varanasi.

The Home Minister said that Article 370, that granted special status for Jammu and Kashmir, as the “biggest roadblock” in the state’s development. “Before the abrogation of Article 370, there were many obstacles in Jammu and Kashmir’s path to development. In the next 10 years, Jammu and Kashmir will be one of the most developed states. The journey of development has begun with Vande Bharat Express set to boost tourism in state,” Mr Shah said.

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