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Ashwini Vaishnaw Raises Katra-Banihal Speed to 100 km/h, Tests Vande Bharat on Chenab Bridge | AirNews.in

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Amarinder Singh Raja Warring Resigns as Punjab Congress Chief, Accuses Sachin Pilot SP's Akhilesh Yadav Pushes Congress to 53‑55 Seats for 2027 UP Elections Ashwini Vaishnaw Raises Katra-Banihal Speed to 100 km/h, Tests Vande Bharat on Chenab Bridge Rajasthan Congress Leader Vishvendra Singh Resigns Over Ticket Dispute, Sparks Rift BSP Nephew Akash Anand Pledges Loyalty, Seeks Mayawati's 'Second Chance' After Expulsion Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma Launches Bamboo‑Framed Bicycle Pilot in Guwahati SAD Launches Door‑to‑Door Campaign Across 117 Constituencies on Oct 6 President Murmu Grants Assent to Gujarat Uniform Civil Code Bill 2026 PM Modi Calls Pilot Smit Machchhar After He Saves 170 Passengers Kedar Kashyap’s Wife’s Company Gets 23,327‑sq‑ft Plot, 1km From Original Land in Chhattisgarh Amarinder Singh Raja Warring Resigns as Punjab Congress Chief, Accuses Sachin Pilot SP's Akhilesh Yadav Pushes Congress to 53‑55 Seats for 2027 UP Elections Ashwini Vaishnaw Raises Katra-Banihal Speed to 100 km/h, Tests Vande Bharat on Chenab Bridge Rajasthan Congress Leader Vishvendra Singh Resigns Over Ticket Dispute, Sparks Rift BSP Nephew Akash Anand Pledges Loyalty, Seeks Mayawati's 'Second Chance' After Expulsion Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma Launches Bamboo‑Framed Bicycle Pilot in Guwahati SAD Launches Door‑to‑Door Campaign Across 117 Constituencies on Oct 6 President Murmu Grants Assent to Gujarat Uniform Civil Code Bill 2026 PM Modi Calls Pilot Smit Machchhar After He Saves 170 Passengers Kedar Kashyap’s Wife’s Company Gets 23,327‑sq‑ft Plot, 1km From Original Land in Chhattisgarh

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Ashwini Vaishnaw Raises Katra-Banihal Speed to 100 km/h, Tests Vande Bharat on Chenab Bridge

about 1 hour ago

Published: October 2, 2026

Ashwini Vaishnaw Raises Katra-Banihal Speed to 100 km/h, Tests Vande Bharat on Chenab Bridge

Ashwini Vaishnaw raised the maximum speed on the 111‑km Katra‑Banihal line to 100 km/h on May 5 , 2026 during a Vande Bharat run. The upgrade will cut journey times by up to 30 minutes and is slated for a nationwide speed increase by July 1 , 2026.

Ashwini Vaishnaw announced the speed lift today, citing a successful Vande Bharat run that crossed the world‑record Chenab Bridge at 100 km/h.

The 111‑km Katra‑Banihal stretch, inaugurated in June 2025, is part of the 272‑km Udhampur‑Srinagar‑Baramulla Rail Link, a ₹43,780‑crore project that weaves 36 tunnels and 943 bridges through the Himalayas.

The upgraded line will reduce the Katra‑Srinagar journey from 9 to 8.5 hours, offering passengers faster, safer travel and boosting tourism and trade across Jammu & Kashmir.

Railway officials say the speed increase will be rolled out across the USBRL by July 1 , 2026, pending final safety certifications.