Ashwini Vaishnaw: The Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link Project of Indian Railways, which has been ongoing for decades to provide a direct train link to Kashmir, has reached its final stage. Out of this project’s 272 km long rail line, 255 km of work has been completed. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw told the Rajya Sabha on Friday that the USBRL project in Jammu and Kashmir will be completed this financial year.
Work Continues On The Last 17 Km Long Katra-Riyasi Section
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said in a written reply to BJP MP Ashok Chavan’s questions that USBRL’s progress has reached the final stage. Ashok Chavan had asked whether the railways had tested the electric engine on the world’s highest railway bridge, built on the Chenab River on the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla rail link.
Ashwini Vaishnaw said that work is going on on this project’s 17 km-long Katra-Reasi section. The estimated cost of this project is Rs 41,000 crore. Rs 38,931 crore has been spent until March 2024.
World’s Tallest Railway Bridge Ready On Chenab
Ashwini Vaishnaw said that USBRL was the most difficult new railway project started in the country after independence. This rail route passes through the Himalayas. Here, we had to face new challenges every day.
According to the Railway Minister, we had to build many tunnels in this section. Of 111 km of the Katra to Banihal section, 97.42 km (87 per cent) is in the tunnel. One of these is the T-49 12.77 km long tunnel. It is the longest railway tunnel in the country. Railways have built the world’s highest railway bridge over the Chenab River in the Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir. The Chenab Bridge is 1,315 metres long. Its arch is 467 metres, and the height from the river bed is 359 metres.
Work Continues On Indian Railways’ First Cable Bridge Anji Khad
He said that the first cable bridge of Indian Railways had been built at Anji Khad Bridge. Its bridge deck is 331 metres above the river level, and the main pylon is 193 metres high. Electric trains have been tested on the Chenab Bridge. A 46 km section from Reasi to Sangaldan has also been made operational. The Chenab Bridge is between Bakkal and Dugga stations on the Reasi-Sangaldan section.
