The 272-km Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) Project, initiated in 1997, achieved full operational status after nearly 28 years.
The project’s phases of completion are as follows:
- April 2005: The first 55 km section connecting Jammu and Udhampur was completed.
- October 2008: The UPA government operationalized the 68 km Anantnag-Mazhom rail link within Kashmir.
- February 2009: Train services commenced on the 32 km Mazhom-Baramulla link, allowing train journeys from Baramulla to Anantnag.
- October 2009: Train services were extended from Anantnag to Qazigund.
- June 2013: The rail services were further extended from Qazigund to Banihal, a phase that included the construction of the 11.215 km Pir Panjal tunnel.
- July 2014: The Udhampur-Katra line from the Jammu side became operational.
Upon the Modi government taking power, rail services were operational from Baramulla to Banihal in Kashmir and Katra to Jammu on the other side. The critical missing link was the Banihal to Katra section.
The Modi government completed this missing link in two phases:
- February 2024: The Banihal to Sangaldan section was made operational. This section includes India’s longest operational rail tunnel, measuring 12.75 km, located between Banihal and Sangaldan.
- June 6, 2025: The Sangaldan to Katra section was made operational, thereby completing the entire USBRL project.
The Banihal to Katra section is notable for significant engineering challenges, including the iconic Chenab and Anji Bridges, as well as several difficult and lengthy tunnels.
