USBRL undertaking: Chenab bridge, Anji & new Vande Bharat trains – Kashmir finally gets Indian Railways connectivity with rest of India; top 25 stunning facts

Chenab bridge, which is the world’s highest railway arch bridge, has additionally been thrown open to railway site visitors as half of the inauguration.

USBRL, Chenab bridge inauguration: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has inaugurated a key part of the Udhampur–Srinagar–Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) undertaking in Jammu & Kashmir. With in the present day’s inauguration, Kashmir has finally been linked to the rest of India by an all-climate Indian Railways line.Notably, the Chenab bridge, which is the world’s highest railway arch bridge, has additionally been thrown open to railway site visitors as half of the inauguration. Also, this stretch additionally has the Anji Khad bridge, which is Indian Railways’ first cable-stayed bridge.PM Modi flagged off two Vande Bharat Express practice companies between Katra and Srinagar. These trains will join Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra and Srinagar railway stations by the Chenab bridge. The complete USBRL undertaking is seen as an engineering marvel, constructed over a number of years, within the difficult Himalayan terrain.

USBRL Rail Project With Chenab, Anji Bridges & Vande Bharat Trains: Top Facts

1. The Udhampur–Srinagar–Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) stands as one of impartial India’s most vital railway endeavours. This outstanding 272-kilometre railway community, constructed at ₹43,780 crore, traverses the difficult Himalayan terrain.2. The Indian Railways undertaking has 36 tunnels extending throughout 119 kilometres, alongside 943 bridges that join numerous valleys, ridges and mountain passes.3. This engineering achievement hyperlinks remoted areas in Kashmir to the Indian Railways system, while fostering enhanced connectivity, commerce and tourism alternatives all through Jammu and Kashmir.(*25*)4. To improve the rail connectivity’s effectiveness, a specifically designed Vande Bharat Express service now operates between Katra and Srinagar.5. This specific practice variant stands aside because of its particular diversifications for extreme Himalayan winter situations. It maintains environment friendly operations even when temperatures plunge to minus 20 levels Celsius.6. The practice’s specialised options, together with heated windshields, refined heating mechanisms and insulated rest room amenities, guarantee 12 months-spherical operations while sustaining passenger consolation.7. A devoted snow clearance practice will function on this route to keep up uninterrupted companies all year long.8. The set up of seismic dampers helps cut back vibrations and enhances passenger security while travelling by this earthquake-susceptible area.9. The Chenab Rail Bridge, a rare engineering achievement, reaches a top of 359 metres from the riverbed, claiming its place because the world’s highest railway arch bridge. This outstanding construction surpasses the Eiffel Tower by 35 metres in top. The Chenab bridge, stretching 1,315 metres, represents a vital element of the Udhampur Srinagar Baramulla Railway Link.

Chenab Bridge Facts

10. Engineered for resilience in difficult landscapes and extreme climate situations, the Chenab bridge demonstrates distinctive sturdiness with its capability to withstand winds reaching 260 kilometres per hour and a projected lifespan of 120 years.11. Built at a price of ₹1,486 crore, Chenab bridge showcases India’s engineering excellence. The building incorporates specialised structural metal that capabilities successfully between minus 10 to 40 levels Celsius, making certain constant efficiency all through temperature variations.12. The metal welding utilised within the undertaking exceeds 600 kilometres in size, surpassing the space of the railway monitor from Jammu to Delhi.13. The superior ‘Tekla’ software program used for the Chena bridge facilitated exact structural detailing, guaranteeing accuracy in each design and building phases.14. The introduction of Vande Bharat Express service throughout Chenab bridge will considerably lower the journey period between Katra and Srinagar to roughly three hours, providing a discount of two to 3 hours from the present journey time.15. USBRL additionally has India’s longest transportation tunnel, T50, which spans 12.77 kilometres between Khari and Sumber in Jammu and Kashmir. The tunnel serves as a vital connection, establishing steady railway entry between the Kashmir Valley and mainland India.16. The tunnel’s building made use of the New Austrian Tunnelling Method, navigating by numerous geological formations comprising quartzite, gneiss and phyllite. The building course of encountered important challenges, together with substantial water seepage, floor instability, shear zones and fractured volcanic rock constructions.17. The T50 tunnel has complete surveillance by CCTV cameras positioned at 50-metre intervals. A central monitoring facility oversees all digicam feeds to make sure operational effectivity and passenger security.18. The Pir Panjal Railway Tunnel, designated as T-80, spans 11.22 kilometres and holds the excellence of being India’s second-longest transportation tunnel, connecting Banihal and Qazigund.19. The T-44 tunnel, extending 11.13 kilometres between Sawalkote and Sangaldan, ranks as India’s third-longest railway tunnel.20. India’s first cable-stayed railway bridge, the Anji Khad Bridge can be half of the USBRL undertaking. It extends throughout the difficult Himalayan panorama. This important construction traverses the profound Anji River valley, positioned to the south of the Chenab, establishing an important hyperlink within the Katra-Banihal portion of the Udhampur Srinagar Baramulla Rail Line.

Anji Khad railway bridge

21. Located roughly 80 kilometres away from Jammu metropolis, the magnificent Anji Khad bridge stands in opposition to a backdrop of snow-laden mountains. The construction rises 331 metres from the riverbed and extends 725 metres in size, supported by 96 excessive tensile cables.22. The central function of the Anji Khad bridge is an inverted Y formed pylon that extends 193 metres upwards from its base. The bridge utilises 653 kilometres of cable strand all through its building. The complete undertaking reached completion in a swift interval of 11 months.23. More than 8,200 metric tonnes of structural metal have been utilised within the building of Anji Khad bridge offering robustness and longevity in an space characterised by younger, dynamic mountains.24. The Anji Khad Bridge, constructed to resist earthquakes, highly effective winds and geological actions, stands as a outstanding achievement in engineering and exemplifies human dedication and foresight.25. The railway community in Jammu and Kashmir has reached a notable milestone with full electrification of all its tracks. This growth represents a vital development in the direction of establishing an power-environment friendly and environmentally sustainable rail transportation system all through the area.