Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link Set To Operationalise In January 2025 As Final Inspection of Reasi-Banihal Track Underway

The Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS) on Monday (16 December) began inspecting the Reasi-Banihal rail track, the final connecting segment of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project.

This inspection marks a critical step towards making the track operational, with the Vande Bharat train service expected to begin by January 2025.

The two-day inspection, led by CRS Dinesh Chand Deswal, is part of the technical safety approval process. Deswal, accompanied by a team of rail safety experts, is thoroughly examining the project's infrastructure.

The final inspection of the Reasi-Banihal track is scheduled for the first week of January 2025, paving the way for the USBRL project to become fully operational.

The Katra-Banihal section underwent its final trial run in June this year, with a train successfully running between Sangaldan and Reasi railway stations. Tuesday’s inspection will focus on the Kodi-Katra link, including the iconic cable bridge over Anji Khad.

One of the most remarkable features of the USBRL project is the railway bridge over the Chenab River, which stands as the world’s tallest railway bridge at 359 metres—higher than the Eiffel Tower in Paris.

Constructed at a cost of Rs 1,486 crore, the bridge utilised 30,000 tonnes of steel, showcasing a feat of engineering excellence.

The USBRL project is expected to significantly boost the economy of the Kashmir Valley, particularly the horticulture sector. By providing affordable transportation for apples and other produce to markets across the country, the project promises to revolutionize logistics for the region.

"It will also come as the fulfillment of the dreams of industrialists and businessmen in addition to students and the common citizen," officials noted.

Once operational, the Vande Bharat train service will connect Delhi to Srinagar, reducing travel time to approximately 12 hours.

The 272-km Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link aims to connect Kashmir Valley with the rest of the country by a broad-gauge railway line. In view of the importance of the USBRL in providing seamless and hassle-free connectivity to Kashmir, it was declared as a “National Project” in 2002.

The rail link project which tackles the demanding Himalayan terrain, has been divided into four segments, namely, Udhampur-Katra, Katra-Banihal, Banihal-Qazigund, and Qazigund-Baramulla.

The first leg, covering a distance of 25 kilometres from Udhampur to Katra, was successfully completed and commissioned in July 2014.