Modi Inaugurates Historic Kashmir Rail Link: A 130-Year-Old Vision Realized!
A Monumental Achievement in Indian Infrastructure.
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On June 6, 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the final section of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL), a transformative railway project that connects the Kashmir Valley to India’s vast rail network, enabling seamless travel from Kanyakumari in the south to Baramulla in the north. This 272-kilometer (169-mile) rail line, costing approximately $5 billion (₹44,000 crore), fulfills a vision first conceived in the 1890s by Maharaja Pratap Singh, the Dogra ruler of Jammu and Kashmir, who dreamed of linking the Valley to the Indian plains. The project’s completion, marked by the opening of the Chenab Bridge and Anji Khad Bridge, stands as a testament to India’s engineering prowess and political endurance, though it took 42 years and the tenures of 10 prime ministers to achieve.
The USBRL, often compared to the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World for its engineering feats, navigates the rugged Himalayan terrain through 36 tunnels spanning 119 kilometers and 943 bridges covering 13 kilometers. Its completion not only enhances connectivity but also holds strategic and economic significance for a region long isolated by geography and conflict. Speaking at the inauguration, Modi described the rail link as a “game-changer” for Kashmir, promising to boost tourism, trade, and livelihoods while ensuring all-weather access to the Valley.
Engineering Marvels: The Chenab and Anji Bridges
The rail link’s most striking feature is the Chenab Rail Bridge, a 1,315-meter-long (4,314-foot) steel-and-concrete structure that soars 359 meters (1,178 feet) above the Chenab River, surpassing the height of the Eiffel Tower. Designed to withstand earthquakes, landslides, and wind speeds up to 260 km/h (161 mph), the bridge is built to last 120 years. Modi, standing atop the bridge under tight security, waved the Indian tricolor before boarding a test train that traversed picturesque mountains and tunnels to reach the Anji Khad Bridge, India’s first cable-stayed railway bridge.
The Anji Khad Bridge, stretching 862 meters (2,830 feet) and standing 331 meters (1,086 feet) above the ground, connects Katra and Reasi in the Jammu region. Its 193-meter (633-foot) main pylon is a striking feature, complementing the route’s other engineering highlights, such as the 12.775-kilometer Tunnel 50, India’s longest, and the 11.2-kilometer Pir Panjal Tunnel, the country’s second-longest railway tunnel. These structures, combined with the route’s scenic vistas of Kashmir’s mountains, orchards, and meadows, make the USBRL a marvel of both function and beauty.
A Long and Winding Journey to Completion
The USBRL’s journey began in 1983 when Prime Minister Indira Gandhi laid the foundation stone for a 54-kilometer Jammu-Udhampur stretch, promising completion within five years. However, progress stalled due to political upheavals, including the Punjab crisis. Her son, Rajiv Gandhi, reiterated the commitment in 1986, but no significant advancements followed. In 1995, during the height of Kashmir’s militancy, Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao sanctioned ₹2,600 crore for the Udhampur-Baramulla extension, with his railway minister, Suresh Kalmadi, laying another foundation stone. Subsequent prime ministers, including H.D. Deve Gowda and Inder Kumar Gujral, repeated similar ceremonies in 1997, reflecting the project’s slow pace.
A turning point came in 2002 when Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee declared the USBRL a national project, targeting completion by 2007. Costs escalated from ₹6,800 crore to ₹44,000 crore, and the timeline stretched by 18 years. The Jammu-Udhampur section was inaugurated in 2005 by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, 22 years after its foundation. The final 63-kilometer stretch, opened by Modi in 2025, completed the vision. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, reflecting on the 42-year timeline, noted he was in Class VIII when the project began, and now his children are college graduates.
The project’s delays contrast starkly with China’s Qinghai-Tibet Railway, completed in five years, highlighting India’s challenges with bureaucratic inertia and political transitions. Of the 10 prime ministers overseeing the project, seven visited Jammu and Kashmir for foundation or inauguration events, while V.P. Singh, Chandra Shekhar, and P.V. Narasimha Rao did not.
Economic and Strategic Impacts
The USBRL promises to transform Kashmir’s connectivity, previously reliant on treacherous mountain roads and air travel prone to weather disruptions. The introduction of two Vande Bharat Express trains, halving travel time between Srinagar and Katra to three hours, will enhance access for tourists, pilgrims, and locals. The rail link is expected to boost Kashmir’s economy by facilitating the transport of apples, dry fruits, and handicrafts to mainland markets while reducing costs for essential goods. Four planned cargo terminals between Banihal and Baramulla will further support trade.
Strategically, the rail line strengthens India’s presence in a sensitive region near the Line of Control (LoC) with Pakistan. Its ability to expedite troop movements underscores its military significance, especially amid recent tensions following an April 2025 attack that killed 26 Hindu tourists, which India blamed on Pakistan-backed militants—a charge Islamabad denied. Modi’s visit, his first to Indian-administered Kashmir since the escalation, was heavily secured, reflecting the region’s volatility.
Historical Roots and Regional Sensitivities
The dream of a Kashmir rail link dates back to 1898, when Maharaja Pratap Singh engaged British engineers for surveys. Partition in 1947 disrupted early efforts, as part of the route fell in Pakistan’s Punjab, requiring reconnection via Pathankot in 1970. The USBRL’s completion fulfills this historic vision, integrating Kashmir more closely with India’s heartland. However, the project’s strategic importance has raised concerns among some Kashmiris, who see it as reinforcing New Delhi’s control amid ongoing demands for autonomy or independence. The conflict, marked by militancy since 1989, has claimed tens of thousands of lives, with India alleging Pakistani support for armed groups, a claim Islamabad rejects.
A New Chapter for Kashmir
The USBRL’s inauguration is a moment of pride for India, showcasing its ability to overcome engineering and political challenges. Modi hailed the project as a catalyst for spiritual tourism, particularly to sites like the Vaishno Devi shrine in Katra, and a driver of economic growth. Local residents, including students who rode the first trains, expressed excitement over improved access to education and healthcare. Yet, the rail link’s success hinges on its ability to deliver tangible benefits to Kashmiris while navigating the region’s complex political landscape. As India celebrates this milestone, the challenge lies in ensuring the railway fosters unity and prosperity without deepening local grievances in a region marked by decades of unrest.
Sources: The Hindu, The Indian Express, Hindustan Times, The Times of India, PTI
