June 9, 2025: Along with carrying passengers, the two Vande Bharat Express trains on Saturday started their commercial operations from Katra to Srinagar, winding through the majestic Himalayas. The tourism industry in Kashmir was shattered by the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed 26 lives.
Tour operators and other tourism industry stakeholders are viewing the Friday debut of these trains—which Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced—as a possible watershed moment. After a group of armed terrorists killed 26 people—including 25 tourists—who had traveled from all over the country to visit the Kashmir valley, tourism took a serious hit.
Following the incident, more than 80% of existing reservations were canceled, and new reservations were abruptly stopped, according to Sajad Kralyari, secretary general of the Travel Agents Association of Kashmir (TAAK).
All reservations were canceled as a result of the ensuing tensions between India and Pakistan. Nearly all Kashmir hotels were sold out until mid-August, Kralyari said, despite the fact that the instability significantly reduced visitor trust. He said he hoped the recently built rail link would help rebuild trust and attract tourists. "The Prime Minister himself introduced the direct train service, sending a powerful sense of normalcy. New bookings and inquiries have already begun to come in," he continued.
Many tourists who previously took trains to Jammu or Katra and then drove to the Valley now have access to the direct train service, which the tourism industry views as a game-changer. For rail passengers heading to the Valley, the highest arch bridge in the world, Chenab, has also grown in popularity as a tourist attraction. Tour providers also target the more than one crore pilgrims who visit the Vaishno Devi shrine each year. Since Katra is the pilgrimage's base camp, even a small portion of these pilgrims staying in Kashmir might have a big impact on the business.
Nasir Shah, the chairman of the Indian Association of Tour Operators' J&K Chapter, called the new rail service a "good indication" for the area. The three-hour train travel from Katra to Srinagar will make the Valley more accessible. Train travel to Kashmir is now comfortable for Yatris who are visiting Vaishno Devi, he said.
Travel was delayed by regular landslides and shooting stones, especially in the Ramban district, which led to the closure of the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway. Although the roadway is still being widened, the new rail link provides a quicker and safer option, which could change the way people travel in the area.