Vande Bharat Express Connects Kashmir: A New Era for Integration and Identity

Aug, 6 2025

Vande Bharat Flags Off a New Chapter for Kashmir

There's a new sound on Kashmir's tracks—and it's not the old slogans or the silence of isolation. For the first time, the Vande Bharat Express is running in the Valley, and it’s doing more than just carrying passengers. On June 6, 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi didn’t just flag off a train; he sent a message loud and clear that Kashmir is, undeniably, connected to the rest of India.

The Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project has never been just about steel and sleepers. The Chenab Bridge, now the world’s tallest rail bridge, and the equally daring Anji Rail Bridge, cut across some of the region’s toughest terrains. Kashmiris have always felt a bit hemmed in, but now trains cross the mighty Chenab gorge, knitting together towns that once felt days apart. This isn’t just impressive geography; it’s a show of intent—Kashmir is plugged into the nation’s grid for the long run.

Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha didn’t waste words. When he said, 'Kashmir to Kanyakumari' is finally a reality, it wasn’t just political talk. It’s decades of vision, debates, and longing for seamless integration on the ground. For leaders like Sardar Patel and Syama Prasad Mookerjee, this was always the dream. What used to be a catchy slogan is now part of everyday life. Imagine hopping on a train in Baramulla and knowing your destination is just as within reach as anyone else’s in India. That’s seismic for the way locals—and outsiders—see this region.

Shifting Slogans: From Separatist Echoes to National Chants

Kashmir has long been a battleground for both armed and ideological fights. Markets here once shut down and streets echoed with calls for separation. Now, the air is changing. This year, after the Pahalgam terror attack, usually fiery separatist rallies found themselves overwhelmed by a sea of tricolor flags, the chants of Vande Bharat Express matched by those crying "Bharat Mata Ki Jai" and "Vande Mataram"—not just in Kashmir, but across the UK where diaspora politics take center stage.

Take London, for example. Members of the Friends of India Society International weren’t letting pro-Khalistan groups have the last word. Their counter-protest, complete with patriotic songs and flag-waving, was proof that the Indian cause has a global voice. You could feel the ripple—suddenly, it wasn’t just about local or even national unity, but international support for Kashmir’s place within the Indian fold.

Back in the Valley, students and activists from organizations like the ABVP braved icy Republic Day mornings, undeterred by weather or threats, raising the flag and chanting India’s name. This wasn’t stage-managed; this was the new grassroots reality, a kind of ownership that’s sprung up from below. Separatist groups, once met with silent fear or reluctant participation, now face an open challenge from locals who want more than conflict—they want connection, growth, and a stable future.

Infrastructure might be the most visible sign of change, but the real shift is underneath—the sense that Kashmiris no longer have to choose between their identity and their future. The Vande Bharat doesn’t just cross bridges; it crosses years of mistrust and alienation. That’s hard to miss, even for those who watch Kashmir from a distance. The real marvel is seeing a region once known for its strife becoming a headline for progress instead.