On Wednesday, Indian Railways marked a significant achievement in the development of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Railway Line (USBRL) by successfully conducting a trial run on the steep 179-degree gradient of the Katra-Banihal section in Jammu and Kashmir. This milestone brings India closer to fulfilling the long-awaited dream of providing direct rail connectivity to Kashmir, a project that has been under development for over two decades.
The trial train, traveling at a speed of 110 km/h, was part of ongoing tests between Sangaldan and Reasi. The test run took place on the challenging Chenab Bridge, one of the key structures in the USBRL project. Dinesh Chand Deshwal, the Commissioner of Railway Safety for the Northern Circle, praised the engineers for their outstanding efforts in overcoming the region’s complex geography.
Deshwal described the successful trial as “a new chapter in the history of the Railways” and expressed satisfaction over the smooth conduct of the test. He credited the engineers for their work, emphasizing the importance of this achievement.
Test Run Details And Next Steps
According to sources, the trial run began at 10:30 am from Katra station, with the train reaching Banihal in 1.5 hours. After a brief halt, the train returned to Katra at 3:30 pm. Deshwal stated that the team would analyze the data collected from the test to assess the feasibility of starting direct train services to Kashmir. However, he refrained from commenting on the official start of the services, noting that the mandatory statutory inspection would conclude by evening.
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“Our infrastructure is outstanding, and very soon a fair decision will be taken based on our report,” Deshwal added.
The journey to connect Kashmir by rail has spanned more than 20 years. The USBRL project began in 1997 but faced numerous delays due to the region’s challenging geology, topography, and weather conditions. Despite these setbacks, the project is now entering its final stages.
Sources indicated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to inaugurate the critical section, which will enable the first direct train from Kashmir to Delhi. The 800-km journey is expected to take under 13 hours, significantly improving connectivity for the region.
Transforming Kashmir’s Economy
The railway link is anticipate to bring significant economic benefits to Kashmir. It will facilitate faster, cheaper, and more reliable transportation of goods, particularly signature Kashmiri products such as apples, dry fruits, pashmina shawls, and handicrafts. This improve connectivity is expect to expand the reach of Kashmir’s products to markets across India and reduce the cost of importing essential goods to the region.
As the project nears completion, it will transform Kashmir’s economy and improve the quality of life for residents by providing faster and more affordable access to essential services and products.
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