Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his visit to Jammu and Kashmir on June 6, strongly asserted that terror attacks like the one in Pahalgam will not derail the development trajectory of the region. The statement came as he inaugurated the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) and flagged off the first Katra-Srinagar Vande Bharat Express, marking a historic moment in India’s railway history.
The USBRL project includes the world’s highest single-arch railway bridge—the Chenab Bridge, standing 359 metres above the riverbed, 35 metres taller than the Eiffel Tower. Built at a cost of ₹1,486 crore, it spans 1.3 km and can withstand wind speeds up to 260 km/h, with a design life of 120 years.
Decorated railway stations across the Valley celebrated the arrival of the Vande Bharat Express, which now directly connects Srinagar to the rest of India. Security was ramped up in key locations like Katra, Ramban, and Udhampur ahead of the PM’s arrival.
The 272-km rail line, built over three decades at a cost of ₹43,780 crore, navigates through some of the toughest Himalayan terrain. The project includes 36 main tunnels (120 km), 8 escape tunnels, and 943 bridges spanning rivers and gorges.
Key engineering marvels include:
- Anji Khad Bridge: India’s first cable-stayed railway bridge, completed in just 11 months using 96 high-tensile cables and over 8,200 MT of steel.
- Tunnel T-50: India’s longest transportation tunnel (12.77 km).
- Tunnels T-80 and T-44: Among the longest in India, measuring 11.22 km and 11.13 km respectively.
- All-weather connectivity: Equipped Vande Bharat trains will ensure year-round operations even in harsh winters.
First proposed in the 1970s and approved in 1994, the USBRL project received a major push under the Vajpayee government in 2002. Former J&K CM Omar Abdullah remarked that he had been waiting for this day since his school years, underscoring the long journey of the project.
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Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw called the USBRL a milestone for regional integration, expected to transform trade, tourism, and mobility in the Kashmir Valley. The new rail line aims to end Kashmir’s seasonal isolation and high airfare dependency.