The Indian Railways has completed a trial run of a tower wagon on the Anji Khad Bridge, India’s first cable-stayed rail bridge, located in Jammu and Kashmir’s Reasi district. This achievement marks a significant step toward connecting the Kashmir Valley to the rest of the country via rail, with services expected to commence in January 2025.
Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw shared a video of the trial run on the social media platform X, highlighting the project’s progress. The Ministry of Railways stated, “The trial run on the Anji Khad Bridge, a key component of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Railway Link (USBRL) project, has been successfully completed.”
Completed last month, the Anji Khad Bridge is an engineering marvel featuring a single pylon that rises 331 meters above the riverbed. It is supported by 48 cables on its lateral and central spans and stretches 473.25 meters in total length. The viaduct measures 120 meters, while the central embankment spans 94.25 meters.
This bridge is the second-highest railway bridge in India, following the Chenab Bridge, which holds the world record at 359 meters above the riverbed. Both bridges are part of the ambitious USBRL project designed to enhance connectivity in the region.
According to officials, the USBRL project spans 272 kilometers, with 255 kilometers completed. The remaining stretch between Katra and Reasi is on track for completion by December 2024.
Minister of State for Railways Ravneet Singh announced in November that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to inaugurate the Vande Bharat train connecting Kashmir to New Delhi in January.