Finally, the day has come for which Kashmiris were waiting for ages. With Prime Minister, Narendra Modi inaugurating world’s highest railway bridge, Chenab Bridge and India’s first cable-stayed rail bridge, Anji Bridge and flagging off two Vande Bharat trains, Kashmir has finally been connected with rest of the country. The 272 Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) has become a reality. Nothing could a better Eid gift For Kashmiris than opening of this railway link.
In modern world, surface communication is vital for progress and development. Kashmir Valley has all along been suffering on this front. Given the fragility of Srinagar-Jammu highway, travelling to Jammu or other parts of the country had all along been a nightmare particularly for students and small traders who study or do business in different parts of the country. Though the highway hass been upgraded of late, still there are some bad patches which are yet to be taken care of.
In this backdrop having an all-weather railway link is what is going to prove a game changer. The railway track is an engineering marvel. Take, for instance, Chenab Bridge, located between the remote villages of Kauri and Bakkal, it rises 359 metres above the Chenab River, 35 metres higher than the Eiffel Tower, and spans 1,315 metres in length. The bridge is designed to withstand winds of up to 260 km per hour and seismic activity, the bridge has a projected lifespan of 120 years and has been built at a cost of Rs 1,486 crore. The USBRL project constructed at the cost of around Rs 43,780 crore, includes 36 tunnels (spanning 119 km) and 943 bridges. The project establishes all-weather, seamless rail connectivity between the Kashmir Valley and the rest of the country.
The railway connectivity will not only give a boast to the tourism sector but will revolutionize the horticulture sector too. Horticulture is the main economic activity in Kashmir. Apple, Cherry, Strawberry, plums, apricot are produced here in abondance. This sector would suffer a lot due to transportation issues and at time, given the road blockade, fruits with less shelf life would rot before reaching the intended Mandis. With a direct train from Kashmir, the fruit growers would reach different cities of the country well in time with their produce. As Prime Minister that he will end Dil Ki Doori, Delhi Se Doori, this rail link is undoubtedly going to do so. It will bring Kashmir more closer to the rest of the country.