Diplomat Correspondent
Anantnag,(DD) Kashmir entered a new era of connectivity on Friday as the first loaded freight train arrived at Anantnag Railway Station, marking the operational start of the Banihal–Sangaldan–Reasi–Katra section of the Udhampur–Srinagar–Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project.
With this milestone, the Valley is now directly linked to the national freight network, enabling uninterrupted movement of goods from across India. The development is expected to slash transport costs, open new trade avenues, guarantee year-round supplies despite harsh winters, and strengthen Kashmir’s economic integration with the rest of the country.
The 272-km USBRL route cuts through some of India’s most challenging terrain in the young Himalayas, covering eight districts—Udhampur, Reasi, Ramban, Srinagar, Anantnag, Pulwama, Budgam, and Baramulla.
Engineering highlights include the world’s tallest railway bridge over the Chenab in Reasi, towering 359 metres above the riverbed, and the country’s first cable-stayed rail bridge at Anji Khad. The project also delivered 215 km of approach roads, over 320 smaller bridges, and state-of-the-art safety systems such as mechanical tunnel ventilation, firefighting equipment, and 66 km of escape tunnels.
Beyond infrastructure, the project has generated more than 5 crore man-days of employment, improved regional road connectivity, and given a major boost to the socio-economic landscape of Jammu and Kashmir( DD)
