36 Tunnels, 943 Bridges & India’s Longest Rail Tunnel in Katra-Banihal Section

NEW DELHI, 06 JUNE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday inaugurated the 272-km Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project, marking a historic moment in India’s railway development. Built at a cost of ₹43,780 crore, the electrified corridor features 36 tunnels and 943 bridges. A standout section, the 111-km Katra-Banihal stretch, has 97.42 km of tunnels and bridges, including the T-50 tunnel—India’s longest railway tunnel at 13 km.

PM Modi also inaugurated the iconic Chenab Railway Bridge, the world’s highest railway arch bridge at 359 meters—35 meters taller than the Eiffel Tower—and India’s first cable-stayed Anji Bridge. These engineering marvels are built to withstand high seismic activity and strong winds. The Chenab Bridge alone used 29,800 metric tons of steel and is five times taller than Qutub Minar.

Talking to Manoj Kumar, Editor-in-Chief of The Impressive Times, Dilip Kumar, Executive Director (Information & Publicity), Railway Board, called the inauguration of the Chenab and Anji Khad bridges a historic achievement for Indian Railways. Inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on June 6, the Chenab Bridge, standing 359 metres high is now the world’s tallest railway arch bridge, while the Anji Khad is India’s first cable-stayed railway bridge. Both are part of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) and are engineered to withstand extreme weather, winds up to 260 km/h, and seismic activity, ensuring all-season connectivity. With this, the Kashmir Valley is now formally linked to the rest of India by rail. He further added that two Vande Bharat Express trains will operate six days a week between Sangaldan and Baramulla, reducing travel time to just 3 hours and significantly boosting regional tourism, trade, and integration.

Two Vande Bharat Express trains will also begin daily service between Katra and Srinagar, covering the distance in just three hours, enhancing connectivity and tourism in the region. The USBRL project promises to revolutionize transportation in Jammu and Kashmir, linking the Kashmir Valley with the rest of India through an all-weather, high-speed rail network.

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