A train crosses a snow-covered railway line at Narpal near Srinagar
(TOI, Delhi, BCCL/Bilal Bahadur)
India took a major step towards realizing the long-awaited dream of connecting Kashmir with Kanyakumari by rail on Tuesday, inaugurating the Banihal-Sangaldan section of the ambitious Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project. This 48-kilometre extension represents significant progress in establishing an all-weather transportation network between the two ends of the country.
Due to the mountainous nature of Jammu and Kashmir, many parts of the Union Territory often lose connectivity in the winter months. The only road linking the region to the rest of the country is the 300-km Srinagar-Jammu National Road, which has also gained notoriety for being highly prone to landslides and fatal accidents. The treacherous geography of the area has stifled development, and thus many residents are eagerly awaiting the completion of the USBRL.
The newly inaugurated Banihal-Sangaldan line has many impressive features, including 16 bridges and the country's longest transport tunnel, the T-50, which runs a whopping 12.77 km between Khari and Sombre districts in Ramban district of Jammu and Kashmir. More than 90% of this section passes through tunnels, and the Vande Bharat Express trains will be designed to operate in the harsh conditions of the region.
“The dream of connecting Kashmir to Kanyakumari by rail has also come forward today,” Prime Minister Modi announced at the inauguration ceremony in Jammu. The project, constructed at a cost of Rs 15,863 crore, is expected to be a game-changer in the region. The Jammu and Kashmir administration expects significant regional development by facilitating easy access to markets, healthcare and education, and reducing travel time for residents, especially to remote villages and towns in the vicinity.
To add another feather to its cap, the 185-km road between Baramulla and Sangaldan has been electrified at a cost of Rs 470 crore. To mark the occasion, Prime Minister Modi launched Kashmir's first electric train service, which is running on this route with 19 stations.
In 2022, Indian Railways achieved another monumental milestone after completing the Chenab Railway Bridge, part of the USBRL at Reasi, which is now the highest railway bridge in the world. Stretching 1,315 meters across the river, it rises 359 meters above the river – some 60 meters taller than the Royal Palace, the tallest building in India!
The opening of the Banihal-Sangaldan section marks a major milestone in bridging the geographical gap between Kashmir and the rest of India. With the continuous progress of the USBRL project, the dream of seamless rail connectivity across the length of the country seems closer than ever.
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