The much-awaited Katra-Srinagar rail link is set to be inaugurated on Friday, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi expected to flag off the first train to Kashmir, officials said.
The train passes through towering peaks of the Himalayas, with hundreds of tunnels built by years of hard work, showing the technological prowess of India.
The 111-kilometre-long stretch is part of the broader Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL), a transformative project designed to link the Kashmir Valley directly to the Indian mainland via a robust, all-weather railway network.
Among the accomplishments lies the Chenab rail bridge, the world's highest railway bridge, standing at 359 metres above the Chenab River in the Reasi district. The mammoth infrastructure project stands 35 metres taller than the Eiffel Tower.
Approximately 87 per cent of the Katra Banihal section runs underground through 35 tunnels, with 27 main and 8 escape tunnels.
The longest of these, the 12.77-kilometre Tunnel T-50 between Khari and Sumber, is India’s longest transport tunnel, equipped with advanced ventilation and safety systems to ensure seamless operation in the challenging mountain environment.
The route also features another engineering marvel, the AnjiKhad Bridge, the country's first cable-stayed railway bridge. Inside the tunnels, ballastless track technology has been employed to minimise maintenance needs and enhance ride stability.
The entire Baramulla-Srinagar-Banihal-Sangaldan corridor, covering 185.66 kilometres, is fully electrified, incorporating modern signalling and safety systems to ensure efficient and eco-friendly train operations.
The project was sanctioned in 1994-95 at an estimated cost of Rs 2,500 crore. The USBRL was declared a National Project in 2002, guaranteeing prioritised funding and attention.
Over the decades, the project has witnessed significant accomplishments like the Jammu-Udhampur section opening in 2005, the Kashmir Valley rail link becoming operational in 2009, and the inauguration of the Pir Panjal Tunnel in 2013.
The entire project’s cost has escalated to approximately Rs 44,000 crore, reflecting the immense technical challenges overcome to create this lifeline in the mountains. The Katra-Banihal section alone required an investment of nearly Rs 15,836 crore.
Follow us
