PM Modi To Inaugurate World's Highest Rail Bridge, Katra-Srinagar Vande Bharat Train on USB Rail Link: What We Know

Katra: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will dedicate to the nation the Chenab Bridge – world's highest railway bridge – on the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Railway Link (USBRL) on June 6, today. He will also flag off a special Vande Bharat train, which will operate between Katra and Srinagar as part of the USBRL project.

In a post on X, PM Modi shared, "Tomorrow, 6th June is indeed a special day for my sisters and brothers of Jammu and Kashmir. Key infrastructure projects worth Rs 46,000 crores are being inaugurated which will have a very positive impact on people's lives. In addition to being an extraordinary feat of architecture, the Chenab Rail Bridge will improve connectivity between Jammu and Srinagar. The Anji Bridge stands tall as India's first cable-stayed rail bridge in a terrain that is challenging." 

"The Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project ensures all-weather connectivity and the Vande Bharat trains from Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra to Srinagar will boost spiritual tourism and create livelihood opportunities," the Prime Minister mentioned in his post.

Prior to PM Modi, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister also took to X, formerly Twitter and wrote, “Visited the tallest railway bridge in the world, The Chenab Bridge, to review arrangements for the visit of the PM Narendra Modi. Tomorrow is a landmark day for J&K when, finally, the valley will be connected to the rest of the country by a railway link to be inaugurated at the hands of the PM.”

Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Project project launch tomorrow | What we know 

• The total length of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link is 272 km, built at an estimated cost of Rs 43,780 crore. The route includes 36 tunnels and 943 bridges, ranging from small to large structures.
• The launch of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla railway link will mark the inauguration of the Chenab Bridge, the world’s highest railway arch bridge, constructed over the Chenab River.
• The Chenab railway bridge is considered one of the engineering marvels of the USBRL project. Another attraction of the USB rail link is going to be Anji Khad bridge, which is yet another engineering marvel, constructed by Indian Railways. The Anji Khad Bridge is Railways first cable-stayed bridge.

• Two new Vande Bharat trains will be introduced for the Srinagar-Katra-Srinagar route, with a key halt at Banihal. The new Vande Bharat trains—26401 and 26402—will commence operations.
• Train number 26401 will depart from Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra railway station at 8:10 AM and arrive in Srinagar at 11:08 AM, with a scheduled halt in Banihal at 9:58 AM.
• During the return journey, Vande Bharat train 26402 will depart from Srinagar at 2 PM and reach Katra at 4:48 PM. The train will halt at Bahinal at 3:10 PM.
• The two new Vande Bharat train service will run for 6 days except Tuesday.
• These new trains have been specially engineered to suit the tough weather conditions in Jammu and Kashmir. The coaches of these Vande Bharat train will sport exclusive features including heated windscreens, sophisticated heating mechanisms, thermally insulated lavatories.
• The construction of the USBRL will significantly reduce travel time between Katra and Srinagar.