Udhampur -Srinagar-Baramulla rail link (USBRL), a technological marvel, is a national project undertaken by Indian Railways for connecting Kashmir region with the rest of country by laying broad gauge railway line across the Himalayas. This 272 kms rail project has four sections (legs) i.e., Udhampur-Katra (25 Kms), Katra-Banihal (111 kms), Banihal-Qazigund (18 kms), and Qazigund-Baramulla (118 kms).
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Before partitioning the country in 1947, the winter capital of the princely state of J&K, Jammu was connected by a railway line with Sialkot in British India. It was 43 kilometers in length transversing a flat plain region. With the partition, this railway connectivity with the rest of country was closed. Now Pathankot in Punjab around 100 kms from Jammu was nearest railway station.
History of Indian Railways in J&K
After 1947, the first step to link Jammu with the rest of the Country was taken by providing strategic Rail connection with the extension of Jalandhar – Mukerain railway line upto Pathankot. Work on the 44 kms line started in November 1949 and formally opened to Rail traffic on 7th April, 1952. Further Rail link was advanced from Pathankot to Madhopur and then up to Kathua in 1966 which was 6 kms inside the State of J&K. But J&K State could not fully enjoy the Rail system badly needed for the overall economic development of the State.
Work for extending rail line from Kathua to Jammu started in the year 1969. This project was a challenging job and was completed within a short span of 3 years and the Kathua- – Jammu section was opened for goods traffic on 2nd October, 1972 followed by first passenger train [Kashmir Express (later on Jhelum Express)] on 2nd December 1972.
Current status of the Rail Link Project
In the year 1983, work for extension of rail line from Jammu to Udhampur (northward of Jammu) started and the 53 km long Jammu–Udhampur section finally opened for traffic on 13 April 2005, when the then Prime Minister launched Utter Sampark Kranti Express on Udhampur-Jammu section. Jammu-Udhampur line was extended upto Katra (25 kms) & first passenger train Shri Shakti Express flagged off from Katra on 4th July 2014 by Sh. Narinder Modi, Prime Minister of India.
The 66 km section between Anantnag and Srinagar opened on 11th October 2008, with twice-daily service in both directions & Qazigund-Srinagar-Baramulla section (118 kms) operationalised on Feb 14 2009. 18-kilometre Banihal – Qazigund section was commissioned in June 2013. 136 km Banihal- Baramulla section of USBRL was fully operational by July 2013.
In the meanwhile, due to suspected geological instability on the existing alignment (leg-2) connecting Katra with Banihal, the Ministry of Railways cancelled the project and terminated all contracts issued for work on the leg-2 in Sep 2008. The Railway Board appointed a committee to examine the feasibility of the project’s Leg 2 and rework the Katra-Banihal route, proposing a fresh survey for a shorter line.
After fresh survey and report submitted by appointed committee, work resumed on the 111 km long Katra -Banihal stretch of which as much as 97.34 km is made up of tunnels. There are 90 major bridges (mostly connecting one tunnel to another tunnel) and 832 minor bridges on Udhampur -Srinagar-Baramulla rail link.
Among these, bridge of steel arches built across the Chenab River in Reasi district will be longest with 1315 metres length & a height of 359 metres from the ground, 35 metres more than the height of the Eiffel tower. This bridge has a lifespan of 120 years and can withstand winds upto 266 km.
It is earthquake resistant upto 8 on Richter Scale. Trains will run across this bridge at a speed of 100 kmph. USBRL has 38 tunnels (longest being 12.75 kms). Railway Minister alongwith senior officers of railway inspected bridge on 26.03.2023.A successful trial run of tracked vehicle on the bridge was also conducted on the same day.
Udhampur-Katra-Srinagar-Baramulla rail link is expected to be commissioned by the end of 2023 or in early 2024.