Complete rail route to Kashmir sees full train of 800 army personnel reach Srinagar for the first time
New Delhi, May 15: Around 800 Indian Army personnel on Tuesday became the first to complete a full rail journey from Delhi to Srinagar via Katra, following the completion of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL).
The journey was arranged for forces who were on leave and stranded due to flight cancellations to Jammu and Kashmir.
According to defence and security sources quoted by The Print, the personnel boarded a train from Delhi, which halted at Katra. From there, they switched to another train and completed the rest of the journey to Srinagar in approximately four hours.
The Katra-Srinagar route had its final trial run in January this year, with a 22-coach train completing the journey successfully. Officials have approved a maximum speed of 85 kmph on the main line and 15 kmph at turnouts for both passenger and freight trains.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi was scheduled to inaugurate the Katra-Srinagar section last month, but his visit was delayed due to adverse weather conditions.
The USBRL project, aimed at connecting Kashmir with the rest of India by train, began in 1997. Due to challenging terrain and weather, the project faced multiple delays.
Of the total 272 km stretch, 209km had been operationalised in phases: 118 km Qazigund-Baramulla in 2009, 18 km Banihal-Qazigund in 2013, 25 km Udhampur-Katra in 2014, and 48.1 km Banihal-Sangaldan in February 2023. The 46-km Sangaldan-Reasi section was finished in June 2023.
The remaining 17km stretch between Reasi and Katra was completed in December 2024, marking the full completion of the USBRL line.
