‘DPR ready for Bla–Uri line, Banihal–Bla doubling’
New Delhi: Ashwini Vaishnaw, Minister for Railways, informed the Rajya Sabha in a written reply today that the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project — spanning 272 km — has been recently commissioned, formally connecting the Kashmir Valley with the rest of the country by rail.
The project covers the districts of Udhampur, Reasi, Ramban, Srinagar, Anantnag, Pulwama, Budgam and Baramulla.
Vaishnaw described the USBRL as “one of the most challenging new railway line projects undertaken in post-independence India,” noting that the alignment passes through the geologically fragile young Himalayas, presenting multiple engineering and geological challenges.
He highlighted the construction of the world’s highest railway bridge over the Chenab in Reasi district — a 1,315-metre-long structure with a 467-metre arch span, rising 359 metres above the riverbed — calling it an engineering landmark. He also pointed to Indian Railways’ first cable-stayed bridge over Anji Khad, with a 331-metre deck height and a 193-metre main pylon.
Vaishnaw said another major component of the USBRL’s socio-economic impact was the construction of more than 215 km of approach roads, including a tunnel and 320 smaller bridges. This road network, he noted, has significantly improved connectivity for local populations, boosted employment — generating more than 5 crore man-days — and supported regional development.
Following the commissioning of the project, Indian Railways has introduced four Vande Bharat services connecting Katra with Srinagar, along with six pairs of DEMU/MEMU services on the Qazigund–Srinagar section and five pairs on the Srinagar–Baramulla route.
According to Vaishnaw, “with all-weather and reliable rail connectivity, tourism in the Valley is receiving a major boost,” along with improved apple transport and smoother movement of commodities such as cement into Kashmir.
He added that surveys for the Baramulla–Uri new line (46 km) and Banihal–Baramulla doubling (118 km) have been completed, and Detailed Project Reports prepared. Project sanctioning, he noted, requires consultations with multiple stakeholders — including state governments and agencies like NITI Aayog and the Ministry of Finance — and timelines depend on these approvals as part of a “continuous and dynamic process.”
