In an engineering feat, Indian Railways constructed over 215 kilometres of roads to lay just 111 kilometres of railway track under the Udhampur–Srinagar–Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project, Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said on Wednesday. The section, connecting Katra to Banihal through some of the most demanding Himalayan terrain, is now hailed as one of the country’s most challenging railway lines post-independence.

Initially built to transport manpower, equipment and construction materials to remote work sites, the roads have since become valuable infrastructure assets, significantly improving connectivity for residents along the route between Jammu and Srinagar.

The minister added that construction of tunnels disrupted natural water flows from Himalayan hilltops to nearby villages. However, Indian Railways devised alternate water channels to ensure supply to over 20 affected villages, restoring access to a critical resource.

Highlighting the scale and complexity of the project, Vaishnaw said that the 111-km Katra–Banihal stretch includes 25 tunnels covering more than 97 km of the route. Among them is India’s longest transportation tunnel, T-50, which stretches 12.77 km.

The USBRL section features several engineering marvels, including 49 bridges—four of which are categorised as mega bridges—and the iconic Chenab Bridge, the world’s tallest railway arch bridge. The construction involved strengthening foundations with 3,000 tonnes of steel, equivalent to 6,000 truckloads.

The project also includes 67 km of escape tunnels and uses ballast-less tracks throughout the line. Vaishnaw noted that a world-class central command centre has been set up to monitor and manage operations along this segment.

During construction, the team faced major geological and safety challenges, including methane gas leakage in tunnels. These were resolved with advanced engineering solutions, enabling timely progress.

A significant milestone was recently achieved with a successful high-speed trial in the mountainous Katra–Banihal stretch. The line will soon be operational, with Vande Bharat trains expected to run between Jammu and Srinagar. In the event of snowfall, a dedicated snow-removal train will clear the route ahead of scheduled services.