New Delhi, Dec 06: The Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project, with a total length of 272 km, has recently been commissioned, connecting the Kashmir Valley to the rest of India by rail.
This project is notable for its challenging terrain through the young Himalayas, and it features significant infrastructure like the world’s highest railway bridge over the Chenab River and India’s first cable-stayed bridge over Anji Khad.
The USBRL has also involved the construction of over 215 km of approach roads, enhancing local connectivity and generating substantial socio-economic benefits, including over 5 crore man-days of employment.
After the commissioning, Indian Railways have introduced multiple Vande Bharat and DEMU/MEMU services to facilitate transport within the valley and beyond, promoting tourism and enabling better transportation of local goods, including apples and cement.
To further extend rail connectivity, surveys for a new line between Baramulla and Uri (46 km) and the doubling of the Banihal-Baramulla line (118 km) have been completed, with a Detailed Project Report prepared.
The approval process for these projects will involve consultations with various stakeholders, including state governments and financial ministries, underlining the project’s dynamic and continuous nature.
