Banihal, Dec 6: In a historic milestone in the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link project, the first electric rail trial was conducted successfully from Banihal Railway Station to Khari Railway Station in Ramban district.
The 16-km Banihal-Khari segment forms part of the 111-km-long final phase of the USBRL project, connecting Banihal to Katra.
Engineers of Ircon International Limited, engaged by Northern Railway for the USBRL Project, informed that the 25 KV Railway Electrification (ROCS) work between Banihal and Khari stations was completed and the first trial run of an electric engine with six coaches was also successfully conducted by Northern Railway Firozpur division.
Earlier in October this year, Union Minister of Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw said the Baramulla-Banihal railway track, connecting Jammu to Srinagar, is slated for completion by December or January next year. He highlighted the remarkable increase in the project budget, from 1000 Crore to 6000 Crore, which has significantly expedited the overall progress.
Vaishnaw expressed optimism about the imminent completion of the USBRL project by the end of the year, underscoring the significant strides made in connecting Jammu with Kashmir's railway network.
On a normal day, at least 20 pairs of trains run regularly from Baramulla in north Kashmir to Banihal and carry almost 30,000 passengers, including students and employees.
The Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Railway (USBRL) is a railway track being laid to connect the Valley to the rest of India. It comes under the jurisdiction of the Firozpur railway division of Indian Railways' Northern zone. The 359 m (1,178 ft) tall Chenab Bridge lies on this line, which once completed will be the tallest railway bridge in the world.