New Delhi : 272 Km. long Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail link Project (USBRL Project) is almost ready. As per the reports from Indian Railways, 90% work has been Completed on Katra-Banihal Section.
Tunnel Mining: 162.6Km of 163.88Km
Track Laying: 31.3km of 117.7Km
Bridges-
Major: 21 of 26
Minor: All 11
7 Stations: 80%
With a view to provide an alternative and a reliable transportation system to Jammu & Kashmir, Govt. of India planned a 272 Km. long Railway Line from Udhampur to Baramulla joining the Kashmir valley with the Indian Railways network under Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail link Project (USBRL). This project has been the most challenging works undertaken post-independence by Indian Railways. In view of importance of USBRL project in providing seamless and hassle-free connectivity, the Project was declared as “National Project” in 2002. The alignment of USBRL involves construction of a large number of Tunnels and Bridges in highly rugged and mountainous terrain with most difficult and complex Himalayan geology.
This Project involves 38 Tunnels (combined length of 119Km), the longest Tunnel (T-49) is having a length of 12.75 Km and is country’s longest transportation tunnel. There are 927 nos. of Bridges (combined length of 13 Km). These bridges include the iconic Chenab Bridge (Overall length 1315 m, Arch span of 467 m and height of 359 m above river bed) which will be the highest railway bridge in the world. Indian railway’s first cable stayed bridge is also being constructed on Anji Khad.
For the purpose of execution /monitoring , the work has been sub divided into the following four legs :-
Leg-1 : Udhampur –Katra (25 KM -Work completed and section commissioned in July-2014.
Leg-2 : Katra- Banihal (111 KM) – Work in progress
Leg-3: Banihal –Quazigund ( 18KM) -Work completed and section commissioned in June 2013.
Leg-4: Quazigund –Baramulla (118 KM) – -Work completed and section commissioned in three phases, last phase commissioned in Oct. -2009.