The world's tallest railway bridge is likely to be completed by this date
Railway Minister Vaishnav said that out of the 272 km rail link, 255 km work has been completed.
New Delhi: Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav said in the Rajya Sabha on Friday that the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project in Jammu and Kashmir is likely to be completed this financial year.
Railway Minister Vaishnav, in a written reply to BJP MP Ashok Chavan's questions, said that out of the 272 km railway link, 255 km work has been completed.
Ashok Chavan asked about the current status of USBRL, the total expenditure on construction so far and the likely expenditure in the near future.
Chavan asked whether the railways had tested electric engines on the world's highest railway bridge built over the river Chenab on the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla railway line and also sought information on the timing of the railway line's commissioning.
“A new line in Jammu and Kashmir is being taken up under the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project. Of the total 272 km of Udhampur Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link Project (USBRL), 255 km has already been completed,” Vaishnav said.
He further said, “Work has been taken up on the 17 km long Katra-Reasi section balanced road. The expected cost of the project is Rs 41,000 crore, in contrast, Rs 38,931 crore has been spent on the project till March 2024.”
Stating that the USBRL was perhaps the most difficult new railway project in the country since independence, Vaishnav added that the terrain passes through the Himalayas, which are full of geological wonders.
According to the railway minister, the section mainly consists of tunnels – 97.42 km (87 percent) of the 111 km Katra-Banihal section is in tunnels and one tunnel, T-49, will be 12.77 km, which will be the longest railway. A tunnel in the country.
“Railways has built the world's highest railway bridge over river Chenab in Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir. The iconic Chenab Bridge is 1,315 meters long with an arch of 467 meters and a height of 359 meters above the river bed,” said Vaishnav.
He added, “The first cable-stayed bridge of Indian Railways has been constructed at Anji Pit. Its bridge deck is 331 meters above the river level and its main pylon is 193 meters high.”
The Railway Minister said that the trial with electric trains has been successfully conducted on Chenab Bridge and the section from Reasi to Sangaldan (46 km) has also been commissioned.
“The Chenab Bridge is between Bakkal and Dugga stations on the Reasi-Sangaldan section. The project is likely to be completed this financial year,” Vaishnav added.
(with PTI input)
