Union Minister for Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw has said that the recently commissioned Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL), one of India’s most challenging railway projects, has been built with global-level safety measures while ensuring minimum disturbance to the fragile Himalayan ecology.
The 272-km USBRL project, which traverses Udhampur, Reasi, Ramban, Anantnag, Pulwama, Budgam, Srinagar and Baramulla districts, includes the world’s highest railway bridge over the Chenab (359 m above riverbed) and Indian Railways’ first cable-stayed bridge over Anji Khad. Mr Vaishnaw highlighted that over 5 crore man-days of employment were generated and 215 km of approach roads, including tunnels and 320 bridges, were built, drastically improving local connectivity and boosting socio-economic development. 66 km of escape tunnels and fire-fighting systems have been installed for passenger safety. Mechanical ventilation ensures clean air in all tunnels over 2 km long.
Advanced slope stabilization designed by IISc Bengaluru, IIT Delhi, and global experts protects the region’s terrain. The Minister further said that with all-weather connectivity to the Kashmir valley, the project is expected to give a major push to tourism, trade, and employment opportunities in the Union Territory. This information was shared by the Minister in a written reply in the Lok Sabha.
