The Jammu-Srinagar Vande Bharat Express will get a commercial stoppage at Anantnag, a move expected to improve rail connectivity for commuters, tourists and traders in south Kashmir.
The decision was announced after a meeting between Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on 10 June, according to the Ministry of Railways.
The stoppage will give Anantnag a direct halt on the premium train service between Jammu and Srinagar.
The town is one of south Kashmir’s key economic and cultural centres and serves as an important access point for commuters from nearby areas.
During the meeting, Abdullah said the Vande Bharat service had changed travel between Jammu and Srinagar by reducing travel time and improving passenger comfort.
The meeting also reviewed the role of the railway network in supporting freight movement in Jammu and Kashmir.
According to the ministry, rail connectivity is helping move local produce and goods, including cherry, apple and cement, by improving logistics and giving farmers and industrial units access to wider markets.
“The seamless and robust movement of essential freight-particularly the region’s famous fruits like Cherry, Apple and cement-through the railway network has drastically optimized logistics, reduced transit costs, and opened up larger markets for local farmers and industrialists,” the ministry said.
Vaishnaw said the Anantnag stoppage reflects the government’s focus on responding to local requirements and using rail infrastructure to support regional development.
The Jammu-Srinagar Vande Bharat service is part of the broader effort to improve railway connectivity in Jammu and Kashmir after the commissioning of key rail links across the region.
