The Indian Railways achieved a significant milestone on Thursday by conducting a successful trial run on the Sangaldan-Reasi section, home to the world’s highest steel arch rail bridge over the Chenab River in Jammu and Kashmir. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced the success on X, sharing pictures of the trial run. The MEMU train, commencing its journey at 12:35 pm from Sangaldan, reached Reasi at 14:05 pm. This trial run involved traversing nine tunnels, totaling 40.787 km in length, including the longest tunnel, T-44, stretching 11.13 km. The bridge, standing tall at 359 meters above the riverbed, surpasses the iconic Eiffel Tower in Paris by a significant 35 meters, marking a crucial link in the ambitious Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail link (USBRL) project. This monumental structure is poised to bridge the gap between Reasi district in Jammu and Kashmir, with the first train expected to run on June 30th. With the completion of the 46 km Sangaldan-Reasi section, only a 17 km stretch between Reasi and Katra remains to be completed, a critical segment of the USBRL project. This landmark achievement is a testament to the unwavering dedication of the Indian Railways towards enhancing connectivity and infrastructure in the region. The USBRL project, spanning 272 km, has been executed in phases. The first phase, encompassing the 118 km Qazigund-Baramulla section, was commissioned in October 2009. Subsequently, the 18 km Banihal-Qazigund section was completed in June 2013, followed by the 25 km Udhampur-Katra section in July 2014. The 48.1 km long Banihal-Sangaldan stretch was commissioned in February 2024. The base of the steel and concrete arch bridge between Bakkal and Kauri, located 42 km from Reasi town, was completed in November 2017. The successful trial run signifies a significant step towards connecting Jammu and Kashmir through a robust rail network. The completion of this landmark project will not only enhance connectivity but also contribute significantly to the economic and social development of the region.
India’s Highest Rail Bridge Completes Successful Trial Run
