Jammu: Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Friday said the Indian Railways has achieved a major operational milestone on the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL), with the maximum permissible speed on the 111-km Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra-Banihal section increased from 75 kmph to 100 kmph.
According to the Minister, the enhanced speed limit was successfully tested on Thursday, marking a significant step towards improving train operations on the strategically important rail corridor connecting Kashmir with the rest of the country.
He said the Vande Bharat Express (Train Nos. 26401/26404) set a new operational benchmark by crossing both the Chenab Rail Bridge and the Anji Rail Bridge at a speed of 100 kmph.
The development is considered significant given the engineering complexity of the route. The Chenab Rail Bridge is the world’s highest railway arch bridge, while the Anji Bridge is India’s first cable-stayed railway bridge.
The increase in permissible speed is expected to improve operational efficiency and reduce travel time between Jammu and the Kashmir Valley. Railway officials said the successful 100-kmph run demonstrated the operational readiness of the infrastructure and would contribute to faster, smoother and more reliable passenger services.
The latest upgrade marks another milestone in the ongoing modernisation and expansion of rail connectivity in Jammu and Kashmir.
MoS Railways inspects Chenab, Anji railway bridges on Katra-Banihal track
The Minister of State for Railways V Somanna on Friday inspected the Chenab and Anji railway bridges on the Katra-Banihal track in Jammu division and other projects.
Somanna inspected the world’s highest single-arch railway bridge over the Chenab River, standing 359 metres above the riverbed, and India’s first cable-stayed railway bridge at Anji, constructed as part of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla rail link (USBRL) project, officials said.
The minister inspected both bridges through a window trailing inspection and appreciated the quality of construction and safety standards.
Somanna said redevelopment of several stations, including Jammu Tawi, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra and Udhampur, under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme is progressing at pace.
He also reviewed the expansion of passenger amenities and enhancement of freight loading capacity.
Somanna said that after full commissioning of the USBRL section, the work of seamlessly connecting the Kashmir Valley with the rest of the country would reach its final stage.
(PTI)
