After a monumental nearly 28-year endeavour, the 272-kilometre Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) Project has achieved full operational status. This transformative infrastructure marvel, initiated in 1997, represents a significant triumph of engineering and perseverance, finally connecting the Kashmir Valley to the broader Indian railway network. Its completion promises to unlock unprecedented socio-economic opportunities and enhance regional integration.
The journey towards operationalising the USBRL project has been a phased one, meticulously executed over decades. The initial 55-kilometre section between Jammu and Udhampur was completed and inaugurated in April 2005. Subsequently, successive governments prioritised the challenging sections within the Kashmir Valley. The 68-kilometre Anantnag-Mazhom rail link became operational in October 2008, swiftly followed by the 32-kilometre Mazhom-Baramulla section in February 2009. By 2009, residents could already avail train services from Baramulla, the northernmost point of the USBRL project, to Anantnag, fundamentally altering local travel patterns.
Northern Railway officials confirmed that the project’s phased completion continued with unwavering dedication. Train services from Anantnag were extended to Qazigund towards Jammu by October 2009. A further significant milestone was achieved in June 2013, when train services were extended from Qazigund to Banihal. This particular stretch involved the challenging construction of the 11.215-kilometre-long Pir Panjal tunnel, a testament to India’s engineering prowess in adverse topographical conditions. Almost a year later, in July 2014, the Udhampur-Katra line from the Jammu side was made fully operational, progressively inching closer to the ultimate goal of seamless connectivity.
According to railway sources, upon the current government assuming power, rail services were functional from Baramulla to Banihal on the Kashmir side and Katra to Jammu on the other. The crucial missing link, spanning the formidable terrain between Banihal and Katra, was identified as the final frontier to integrate Kashmir fully into the country’s national rail network. This complex segment, requiring unparalleled engineering solutions, was completed in two critical phases. The Banihal to Sangaldan section was operationalised in February 2024, culminating in the historic operationalisation of the Sangaldan to Katra stretch on June 6, 2025, thereby completing the long-awaited missing link and fulfilling a decades-old national aspiration.
The newly completed Banihal to Katra section is heralded as an engineering marvel, featuring iconic structures such as the majestic Chenab Bridge and the impressive Anji Bridge, both standing as symbols of India’s infrastructural ambition. This segment also traverses some of the country’s toughest and longest tunnels. For instance, it houses India’s longest operational rail tunnel, a colossal 12.75-kilometre structure nestled between Banihal and Sangaldan. Railway officials underscored that numerous other challenging infrastructure development works, involving cutting-edge construction techniques and materials, were successfully materialised over the past eleven years to achieve this monumental feat.
The full operationalisation of the USBRL project is set to usher in a new era of socio-economic development for Jammu and Kashmir. Enhanced connectivity will significantly reduce travel times, lower transportation costs, and facilitate greater accessibility for goods and people, thereby boosting trade, tourism, and local industries. This all-weather rail link provides a reliable mode of transport, critical for regions prone to adverse climatic conditions, ensuring uninterrupted movement and better integration with the national economy. This transformative project aligns seamlessly with the vision of creating more integrated, accessible, and economically vibrant regions, promoting sustainable development and improved livelihoods for the local populace, including providing equitable access for all residents, irrespective of gender. It signifies not merely a rail line but a lifeline, fostering greater unity and prosperity across the nation.
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