The Udhampur–Srinagar–Baramulla Railway Link (USBRL) symbolizes a monumental leap in connectivity for Jammu & Kashmir, blending engineering brilliance with transformative infrastructure.
Engineering Highlights
- The USBRL spans 272 km, built at an estimated cost of ₹37,000 crore (approximately ₹43,780 crore as per latest figures), and features an extraordinary 943 bridges and 36 tunnels totaling 119 km.Press Information BureauIndiatimesArmenpress
- Chief among these marvels is the Chenab Bridge, an arch bridge soaring 359 m above the riverbed—35 m taller than the Eiffel Tower. Stretching 1,315 m in length with a 467 m arch span, it’s nothing short of engineering poetry.Press Information BureauWikipediaIndiatimesAP News
- The Anji Khad Cable-Stayed Bridge, located between Katra and Reasi, is India’s first cable-stayed railway bridge. It features a single 193 m pylon, with the deck towering 331 m above the riverbed, supported by 96 steel cables.WikipediaPress Information BureauThe Times of Indiacomansa.com
Tunneling Through the Himalayas
- The project includes 38 tunnels, including the Sumber–Arpinchala Tunnel (T‑49), spanning 12.75 km—the longest transportation tunnel in India, and the Pir Panjal Tunnel (T‑80) at 11.2 km, both cutting through rugged Himalayan geology.www.ndtv.comWikipedia
Electrification & Milestones
- The rail link is now fully electrified, and significant progress has been made with installations like ballast-less tracks inside T‑33 tunnel near the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi shrine.IndiatimesWikipediaPress Information Bureau
- The project’s commissioning was phased: Jammu–Udhampur (2005), Qazigund–Baramulla (2009), Banihal–Qazigund (2013), Udhampur–Katra (2014), and completion with inauguration on June 6, 2025.WikipediaIndiatimesThe Times of IndiaAP News
Strategic and Economic Impact
- USBRL is more than an infrastructure project—it’s a strategic lifeline. It drastically cuts travel time, strengthens defense logistics, stimulates tourism, and promotes socio-economic integration throughout the difficult terrain of the Valley.WikipediaThe Times of India+1AP NewsIndiatimesadda247The TribuneThe Economic Times
