India Inaugurates World’s Highest Rail Bridge, Connecting Kashmir to Delhi in Under 13 Hours
India has achieved a monumental milestone with the completion of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL), a ₹44,000 crore engineering marvel that now connects Kashmir to Delhi in under 13 hours via the Vande Bharat Express. This historic rail link, inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, marks the realization of a dream that began 27 years ago and once seemed almost impossible. The journey of this mega project began in 1997 when then-Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda laid its foundation stone. At the time, the idea of carving a railway line through the treacherous Pir Panjal mountains, amid intense militancy and adverse terrain, appeared far-fetched even to seasoned engineers. Initial surveys faced unimaginable challenges: engineers had no proper housing, unreliable electricity, and had to navigate a volatile environment where danger lurked at every corner. Makeshift offices with bucket-flushed toilets became their command centers, and CRPF troops were often the only shield against the constant threat of terror attacks.
The engineers and workers of Northern Railway, under the leadership of individuals like Sandeep Gupta and R.N. Pundhir, braved life-threatening situations while laying down the foundation of what would later be considered India’s most difficult railway project. In 1998, engineer Suresh Sapra’s wife Neetu narrowly survived a bomb blast in Srinagar, symbolizing the ever-present risks the team and their families faced. They cooked food by candlelight and lived through curfews, power cuts, and daily uncertainty. The 2004 abduction and murder of engineer R.N. Pundhir by terrorists marked one of the darkest moments of the project, but instead of halting progress, it fueled the team’s determination. As Bhanu Prakash later recalled, the support from local communities became a turning point, helping to restart the stalled work with renewed courage.
Nature, too, tested the project’s resolve. From bone-chilling winters that suspended work for months to the daunting task of constructing bridges and tunnels through some of the world’s most complex terrain, every step was an engineering battle. The crown jewel of the USBRL is the Chenab Bridge, a record-breaking structure that stands 359 meters above the riverbed, making it the tallest railway arch bridge in the world—towering even above the Eiffel Tower. In total, the 272-kilometer USBRL line features 36 tunnels stretching across 119 kilometers and 943 bridges that cut through one of India’s most geologically sensitive regions.
The local population, initially suspicious of the project’s purpose, eventually embraced it with cautious optimism. Villagers mistook early surveyors for security forces, and surrendered militants observed engineers with curiosity, some still carrying AK-47s. Over time, a unique bond developed. One of the most symbolic moments came in 2008 during a trial run, when a Hindu priest, a Muslim cleric, and a Sikh granthi jointly blessed the new tracks—an emotional gesture that reflected the unity and hope the project inspired. Today, four daily Vande Bharat Express trains (except Tuesdays and Wednesdays) will run on the Jammu-Srinagar route, covering the distance in under five hours. This has transformed travel for the people of Kashmir, offering them seamless connectivity with the rest of India and opening up vast opportunities for tourism, trade, and cultural exchange.
This rail link is not just a transportation achievement; it’s a story of resilience, courage, and the human spirit. It honors the sacrifice of those who worked through unimaginable odds—not just with blueprints and machines, but with buckets, candles, and undying resolve. With this transformative project now a reality, Kashmir’s integration into India’s railway map is complete, redefining accessibility and national unity.
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