The Northern Railway on Saturday (June 15) announced that the train service from Ramban to Reasi, passing over the world’s highest railway bridge on the Chenab River, is all set to commence soon. Currently, trains operate from Kanyakumari to Katra and from Baramulla to Sangaldan in the Kashmir Valley.
‘World’s eighth wonder’
According to Reasi Deputy Commissioner Vishesh Mahajan, the upcoming arrival of the train in Reasi marks a significant milestone for the district, celebrating it as an engineering marvel and potential “eighth wonder of the world.”
“This is an engineering marvel of the modern world. The day when the train will reach Reasi will be a game-changing day for the district. It is a proud moment for us, as our engineers have created a marvel. It is the eighth wonder of the world. The bridge, the wind speed, and its strength are wonderful. The exact date cannot be said, but I hope the day comes soon,” Mahajan said.
Indian Railways conducts inspection of Sangaldan-Reasi line
Furthermore, railway officials recently conducted a thorough inspection of the newly constructed railway line and stations between Sangaldan and Reasi in Ramban district. Sujay Kumar, Deputy Chief Engineer from Konkan Railways, described the project as highly challenging and noted the positive reception from affected communities.
“People being affected by this project are all very happy. We hope everything will be completed soon,” he said.
Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link project
The Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project, encompassing the 48.1 km Banihal-Sangaldan section, is slated for completion by the year’s end.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the USBRL project, including the 1,315-meter-long Chenab Rail Bridge, on February 20, 2024. This bridge, towering 359 meters above the Chenab River, exceeds the Eiffel Tower in height by approximately 35 meters. Its construction is integral to making the Kashmir Valley accessible via the Indian Railway network.
Phase I of the USBRL project, covering the 118 km Qazigund-Baramulla section, began in October 2009. Subsequent phases saw the inauguration of the 18 km Banihal-Qazigund section in June 2013 and the 25 km Udhampur-Katra section in July 2014.