Vande Bharat on Chenab Bridge: 100 kmph approved but not yet operated, Northern Railway clarifies
Synopsis
Northern Railway's clarification reveals a telling gap: approval to run Vande Bharat at 100 kmph over the world's highest railway bridge is in place, but the milestone crossing hasn't happened yet. A communication mix-up overstated the achievement — and the correction matters for a project as symbolically significant as the Katra-Banihal rail link.
Key Takeaways
Northern Railway clarified on 20 August that no train has yet run at 100 kmph over the Chenab Railway Bridge .
Approval has been granted for 100 kmph operations on the 111-km Katra-Banihal Broad Gauge section.
Previous speed limits were 85 kmph (Katra-Sangaldan) and 75 kmph (Sangaldan-Banihal).
The confusion arose from a communication gap between approval and actual operation, officials said.
Senior DCM Uchit Singhal said the speed boost will cut travel time and support tourism and trade in Jammu and Kashmir .
The Chenab Bridge , at 359 metres above the riverbed, is the world's highest railway bridge.
Northern Railway on Thursday, 20 August clarified that while approval has been granted to run trains at 100 km per hour on the Katra-Banihal rail section, no train has actually been operated at that speed over the Chenab Railway Bridge — the world's highest railway bridge — in Jammu and Kashmir. The clarification came after some reports suggested the Vande Bharat Express had already crossed the iconic bridge at 100 kmph.
What Northern Railway Actually Said
In an official communication to the media, Northern Railway stated: 'Approval has been given to increase the speed of trains to 100 kmph on the Banihal to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra rail section. No train has been operated at a speed of 100 kmph as of now.'
Officials attributed the confusion to a communication gap, noting that reporters had been told approval was received — without the clarification that actual operations at the enhanced speed had not yet commenced.
The Approval and What It Covers
Senior Divisional Commercial Manager, Jammu, Uchit Singhal, confirmed that the Railway Ministry has approved a maximum permissible speed of 100 kmph on the 111-kilometre-long new Broad Gauge rail section between Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra and Banihal under the Jammu Division of Northern Railway.
Previously, the permissible speed was 85 kmph on the Katra-Sangaldan section and 75 kmph on the Sangaldan-Banihal section. The speed enhancement was approved only after compliance with all prescribed safety conditions was verified, according to Northern Railway.
Impact on Travel Time and Connectivity
Singhal said the speed upgrade would reduce travel time between Katra and Banihal and strengthen connectivity across the region. 'The move would provide passengers with faster, safer and more comfortable travel while also boosting tourism, trade and economic activities in the region,' he said.
When the Vande Bharat does operate at close to 100 kmph over the Chenab Bridge, it will mark the first time a train has done so on this section — a milestone for the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project, one of India's most ambitious infrastructure undertakings.
Context: Why the Chenab Bridge Matters
The Chenab Railway Bridge stands at a height of 359 metres above the riverbed — taller than the Eiffel Tower — and is a centrepiece of the USBRL project connecting the Kashmir Valley to the rest of India's rail network. The bridge and the broader Katra-Banihal section represent years of engineering work in difficult Himalayan terrain.
With the speed approval now in place, Northern Railway is expected to operationalise the higher speed limit in the coming period, formally closing the gap between clearance and execution that triggered Thursday's clarification.
Point of View
Compressing the distance between clearance and achievement in public communication. The Chenab Bridge is a genuine engineering triumph, and the eventual 100 kmph crossing will be a legitimate milestone. But overstating progress on a project of this national significance erodes credibility precisely when the railway system needs it most. Northern Railway's prompt correction is the right move; the system that allowed the miscommunication in the first place deserves equal scrutiny.
NationPress
20 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Has the Vande Bharat train run at 100 kmph on the Chenab Bridge?
No. Northern Railway clarified on 20 August that while approval has been granted for 100 kmph operations on the Katra-Banihal section, no train has actually been operated at that speed over the Chenab Bridge yet.
What speed has been approved for the Katra-Banihal rail section?
The Railway Ministry has approved a maximum permissible speed of 100 kmph on the 111-kilometre Broad Gauge section between Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra and Banihal. Previously, limits were 85 kmph on Katra-Sangaldan and 75 kmph on Sangaldan-Banihal.
Why did reports say Vande Bharat had already run at 100 kmph on the Chenab Bridge?
Northern Railway officials acknowledged a communication gap, saying reporters were informed that approval had been received without the clarification that actual operations at the enhanced speed had not yet taken place.
What is the significance of the Chenab Railway Bridge?
The Chenab Railway Bridge is the world's highest railway bridge, standing 359 metres above the riverbed — taller than the Eiffel Tower. It is a key structure on the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link project connecting Kashmir to India's national rail network.
How will the 100 kmph speed limit benefit passengers?
According to Senior Divisional Commercial Manager Uchit Singhal, the higher speed will reduce travel time between Katra and Banihal and improve connectivity, benefiting tourism, trade, and economic activity across Jammu and Kashmir.
