New Delhi, Aug 6, KNT: The Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL), one of India’s most challenging post-independence infrastructure projects, has been successfully commissioned. Spanning 272 kilometres, the project connects the districts of Udhampur, Reasi, Ramban, Anantnag, Pulwama, Srinagar, Budgam, and Baramulla, significantly improving rail connectivity in Jammu and Kashmir.
The USBRL project is hailed as a milestone in Indian railway engineering, particularly for constructing the world’s highest railway bridge over the Chenab River in Reasi district. The iconic Chenab Bridge stands 359 metres above the riverbed, with an arch span of 467 metres, making it a global engineering marvel. Also included in the project is Indian Railways’ first cable-stayed bridge over the Anji Khad, featuring a bridge deck 331 metres above the riverbed and a 193-metre-high main pylon.
Designed to withstand the harsh and unpredictable terrain of the young Himalayas, the project posed immense geological and technical challenges. The Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, and IIT Delhi, along with international experts, contributed to slope stability studies, especially for the Chenab and Anji bridges.
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Beyond engineering, the USBRL project has made a notable socio-economic impact, generating over 5 crore man-days of employment and facilitating construction of more than 215 km of approach roads, including tunnels and 320 small bridges. These efforts have enhanced connectivity for remote communities and stimulated local development.
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Environmental safeguards were prioritised throughout the project. All tunnels longer than 2 km have been fitted with mechanical ventilation systems to maintain air quality. Firefighting equipment and 66 km of escape tunnels have been built to ensure passenger safety. To minimise ecological disruption, NEERI prepared an Environmental Management Plan, guiding measures such as sedimentation tanks, slope stabilisation, and native vegetation restoration.
Controlled blasting techniques were used to reduce vibration impacts during tunnelling. Air quality sensors have been installed in all tunnels of the Katra-Banihal section, and the entire project is electrified, reducing the region’s carbon footprint by shifting away from diesel traction.
The railway ministry stated that land acquisition for the project, which included over 1,559 hectares of private land and 276 hectares of government land, followed the Jammu & Kashmir State Land Acquisition Act, 1990. Compensation amounting to over ₹816 crore has been fully deposited with the relevant district authorities.
The commissioning of USBRL marks the dawn of all-weather, reliable railway connectivity for Kashmir Valley, promising a boost to tourism, trade, and regional integration with the rest of the country.
This information was shared by Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha today. [KNT]
