Jammu Tawi, May 3 -- Amid much fanfare, the commercial operation of the first direct Vande Bharat Express between Jammu and Srinagar commenced on Saturday, two days after its inauguration by Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw.

The train with 20 coaches will operate six days a week barring Tuesdays, and reduce the travel time between the two destinations to less than five hours, officials said.

The train previously operated from Srinagar to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra, and now it will go up to Jammu Tawi.

Decorated with flowers, the train chuged off for Srinagar from platform No. 7 at the Jammu railway station, marking a major milestone in enhancing rail connectivity in the region, Uchit Singhal, senior manager, Jammu Division, said.

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