kashmir-rail-project-completed-due-to-pm-modi-s-will

Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Thursday credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi's sustained political will over the past decade for the successful completion of the 272-kilometre Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Railway Link (USBRL) project, which finally connects the Kashmir Valley with the rest of India by rail.

The prime minister is set to inaugurate key infrastructure milestones on Friday, including the world’s tallest railway bridge over the Chenab River and India’s first cable-stayed railway bridge — the Anji Bridge. He will also flag off two Vande Bharat Express trains: one from Katra to Srinagar and another from Srinagar to Katra. Additionally, Prime Minister Modi will lay the foundation stones for and dedicate a slew of development projects worth over ₹46,000 crore in Katra, the pilgrimage base for the Vaishno Devi shrine nestled in the Trikuta hills.

 

Speaking to reporters, Vaishnaw emphasised the importance of leadership in seeing through such a challenging project. "A project like USBRL demands unwavering political will. Between 2004 and 2014, work was limited to the relatively easy plain stretches. No significant progress was made in the more difficult terrain," he said.

Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw tweets, "Bharatiya Railways will soon start using e-Aadhaar authentication to book Tatkal tickets. This will help genuine users get confirmed tickets during need." pic.twitter.com/V8PhwjO0Ld

— ANI (@ANI) June 4, 2025

“Prime Minister Modi showed the necessary political resolve, consistently guided technical teams, and extended full support — and that is why this long-pending dream has now become a reality,” Vaishnaw added. The ambitious project to connect Kashmir by train began in 1997 but was plagued by delays due to geological, topographical, and climatic challenges. These hurdles led to multiple missed deadlines and a significant cost escalation, bringing the total project expenditure to over ₹41,000 crore.

Out of the 272-km stretch, 209 km has already been commissioned in phases. The first milestone was the 118-km Qazigund-Baramulla segment, inaugurated in October 2009, followed by the 18-km Banihal-Qazigund section in June 2013. The 25-km Udhampur-Katra line was completed in July 2014, and the 48.1-km Banihal-Sangaldan stretch was launched in February 2023.

 

 

Work on the 46-km Sangaldan-Reasi segment was completed in June 2023. The final 17-km Reasi-Katra stretch, the most challenging portion of the project, was completed in December 2023 — marking the full completion of the USBRL corridor.

One of the most remarkable engineering achievements of the project is the Chenab railway bridge, which spans 1.3 km and stands 359 metres above the riverbed — about 35 metres taller than Paris's Eiffel Tower. "From a technical standpoint, it is designed to withstand wind speeds of up to 260 km per hour and is engineered to survive seismic activity, given the region falls in seismic Zone V," the minister explained.

 

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Vaishnaw also highlighted that the foundation of the Chenab bridge spans half the size of a football field and required 30,000 tonnes of steel in its construction. "This makes it the tallest arch railway bridge in the world," he noted. Equally significant is the Anji Khad bridge, India’s first cable-stayed railway bridge. "Typically, cable-stayed bridges are not used for railways due to the immense weight — a train weighs about 4,000 tonnes, compared to 35-40 tonnes for trucks. But due to the terrain and absence of space for piers in the Anji River, this specially designed bridge was the only feasible solution," he explained.

 

 

The topographical complexity of the region is evident in the fact that 97 km of the 111-km Katra-Banihal section passes through tunnels. "This required an innovative technique — the Himalayan tunnelling method — developed indigenously by Indian Railways," Vaishnaw said, calling it a landmark technical innovation. The minister assured that every measure has been taken to ensure the comfort and safety of commuters. "The tunnel designs prioritise passenger convenience and will offer a world-class travel experience to those journeying to and from Kashmir," he said.

He also pointed to broader economic benefits, noting a successful trial shipment of cherry parcels from Katra to Mumbai. "We’re planning to set up four freight terminals — one each in the Kashmir Valley, Jammu, Katra, and Udhampur — within the next 18 months. These will significantly boost cargo movement and economic development across the region," Vaishnaw added.

He concluded by saying that the Kashmir rail link is not just a connectivity project but a transformative step that will positively impact the lives of people in Jammu and Kashmir, bringing the region closer to the mainstream and opening new economic opportunities.

 

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