SRINAGAR: Imagine boarding a train in bustling New Delhi and gliding through northern India’s golden plains. Watch the flatlands slowly give way to rolling hills. As the train ascends into the Himalayas, it offers a front-row seat to engineering marvels like the towering Chenab Bridge — standing taller than the Eiffel Tower.
The train burrows through 38 tunnels carved deep into mountains, emerging into breathtaking views of luxuriant meadows and snow-capped peaks. By the time it pulls into Baramulla station, get ready to be transported to a realm of serene beauty, where the charm of Kashmir awaits.
This will soon be a reality for travellers, as the direct train from New Delhi to Baramulla is set to roll out in January, marking the completion of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project. The inauguration, scheduled for January 26 by PM Narendra Modi, will fulfil a decades-long dream of connecting northern Kashmir to the nation’s vast railway network.
The completion of the Delhi-Baramulla line, covering about 700km, is expected to bring transformative changes to J&K, according to Union junior railway minister Ravneet Singh Bittu. “When our highways and railways are efficient, we can compete globally. This project will enhance connectivity and provide an economic boost to the region,” he said during a recent inspection.
The USBRL project is an engineering triumph, including T-49 — the longest transportation tunnel in India at 12.75km. The project also features 927 bridges stretching over 13km, with the Chenab Bridge towering 359m above the eponymous river.
This is the world’s highest arch railway bridge, soaring 35m taller than the Eiffel. The bridge, constructed with steel and concrete, is designed to withstand wind speeds of up to 260kmph and intense earthquakes.
“Tunnel 33 and four stations along the 17km Reasi-Katra section are also on track for completion by Dec,” an official said Wednesday.
Earlier, the Baramulla-Qazigund section was completed in 2009, followed by Qazigund-Banihal in 2013, Udhampur-Katra in 2014, and Banihal-Sangaldan, inaugurated by PM Modi in Feb 2024. The last stretch, from Sangaldan to Katra, spanning 63km, is now in its final stages of testing, ensuring readiness for operations by January .