New Delhi, Dec 05: The Udhampur–Srinagar–Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project, spanning 272 km and recently commissioned, now connects the Kashmir Valley with the rest of India through a reliable all-weather rail network. The project covers the districts of Udhampur, Reasi, Ramban, Srinagar, Anantnag, Pulwama, Budgam and Baramulla in Jammu and Kashmir.
Union Minister for Railways, Ashwini Vaishnaw, highlighted the project’s significant socio-economic impact, stating that it has generated more than 5 crore man-days of employment. “The project has helped apple farmers transport their produce to different parts of the country. Besides enhancing passenger connectivity to Kashmir, it has also facilitated the movement of commodities like cement into the valley,” Vaishnaw said in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha today.
The USBRL project is considered one of the most challenging railway line projects undertaken in India post-independence, navigating the geologically complex terrain of the young Himalayas. The project features the world’s highest railway bridge over the Chenab River in Reasi district, measuring 1,315 m in length with an arch span of 467 m and a height of 359 m above the riverbed. Additionally, India’s first cable-stayed railway bridge has been constructed over Anji Khad, with its deck 331 m above the river and a main pylon rising 193 m.
A key component of the USBRL project’s socio-economic development has been the construction of over 215 km of approach roads, including a tunnel and 320 small bridges, improving connectivity for local communities and contributing significantly to the region’s development.
Following commissioning, Indian Railways introduced four Vande Bharat Express services connecting Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra with Srinagar. In addition, six pairs of DEMU/MEMU services operate between Qazigund and Srinagar, and five pairs serve the Srinagar–Baramulla sector.
The rail link is expected to boost tourism and facilitate smoother transportation of agricultural produce, passengers, and essential commodities. To further enhance rail connectivity, surveys for the Baramulla–Uri new line (46 km) and Banihal–Baramulla doubling (118 km) have been completed, and Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) prepared. Final sanction will require consultations with state governments and approvals from various central agencies, including NITI Aayog and the Ministry of Finance.
