SRINAGAR: A special Vande Bharat train completed a successful trial run on the Katra–Sangaldan section of the Udhampur–Srinagar–Baramulla Rail Line (USBRL) on Tuesday. The run is part of preparations for the inauguration of the Chenab Bridge—billed as the world’s highest railway bridge—by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on April 19.
PM Modi will flag off the Vande Bharat Express between Jammu and Srinagar, marking the operational launch of services between Katra and Baramulla. He is also expected to travel across the Chenab Bridge during the inaugural journey.
A multi-layered security system has been deployed across the route, with special focus on the Katra–Sangaldan section. Railway authorities said two Vande Bharat trains—one in each direction between Srinagar and Katra—will operate on the day of the launch.
The 1,315-metre-long Chenab Bridge, with a central arch span of 467 metres, stands 359 metres above the riverbed—taller than the Eiffel Tower. It is designed to withstand wind speeds of up to 266 kmph. The structure involved over 28,000 metric tonnes of steel and introduced an innovative cable crane system to transport materials across a 915-metre-wide gorge.
The USBRL project aims to connect Kashmir to the rest of India through a reliable, all-weather railway link. Of the 272-km route, 209 km has already been commissioned in phases since 2009. The final stretch, Reasi to Katra, was completed in December 2024.
Railway officials said the project also includes the Anji Khad Bridge, India’s first cable-stayed railway bridge, and marks a major engineering milestone in the region.
