Srinagar, Aug 07 : The 45-kilometer Sangaldan-Reasi section of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project has been completed and is ready for operations, according to officials. The section is expected to be inaugurated by the Union Railway Minister by the end of September.
A senior official at Northern Railways confirmed to *Rising Kashmir* that Commissioner Railway Safety (CRS), Dinesh Chand Deshwal, and his team recently completed a three-day inspection of the new 46-kilometer Sangaldan-Reasi section. “We have already completed the Sangaldan-Reasi section, including work on the world’s highest bridge, the Chenab Bridge. The track is ready for operations, and train services will soon be inaugurated,” the official said.
The inauguration date is yet to be confirmed, but it is anticipated to occur by the end of September. An authorization document issued by CRS Dinesh Chand Deshwal outlines that the newly constructed BG line from Km 95/331.971 to Km 141/202.197 between Reasi and Sangaldan stations has been inspected thoroughly. “I have inspected the newly constructed BG line from Km 95/331.971 to Km 141/202.197 between Reasi-Sangaldan stations four times, by motor trolley and on foot, followed by a speed trial conducted with a MEMU train at a general speed of 100 km/h and a maximum speed of 113 km/h,” the document states.
The document notes that during the speed trial, five peaks above 0.15g were recorded, and the overall performance was generally satisfactory. It also specifies that the authorization is subject to compliance with various conditions, including speed restrictions and proper signage. “Proper caution and speed indicator boards shall be erected as per standard guidelines. Approved systems for inspection, maintenance, and operations shall be put in place,” it reads.
Reasi station will function as a terminal station during this phase, with safety measures and crowd control strategies in place. “Whenever possible, terminating trains should be directed to Platform-1 (station building side),” the document advises.
Earlier in July, a full train crossed the Chenab River bridge for the first time. This bridge, with a central span of 467 meters and a height of 359 meters, is the world’s highest railway bridge and is often referred to as the “eighth wonder of the world.”
The USBRL project, costing ₹1,548 crore, includes a 1.3-kilometer-long bridge that surpasses the Eiffel Tower in height by 35 meters. The project, which began construction in 2005-06, was declared a “national project” in 2002, aimed at providing seamless and hassle-free connectivity over its 272 kilometers.
The railway electrification work on this section, utilizing a rigid overhead conductor system (ROCS) at 25 kV, is a first for Indian Railways. Last year, officials had hoped to start trains, including the ‘Vande Bharat’ express, by January.
