A successful trial run on world’s highest railway bridge – Chenab Rail Bridge – in Jammu and Kashmir was conducted by the Indian Railways on Thursday. The newly constructed bridge connects Sangaldan in Ramban district to Reasi.
The trial run was conducted less than a week after the Indian Railways, on Sunday (June 16) had successfully carried out an engine trial run on the Chenab Rail Bridge.
The trial run on June 20 suggests that the rail services on the world’s highest railway bridge in Jammu and Kashmir will commence soon.
Video of trial run on world’s highest Chenab Rail Bridge
The video of the trial run shows a train passing through the towering railway bridge over the Chenab River.
Union Minister for Railways, Ashwini Vaishnaw, also shared the pictures of the trial run on X and said: “Successful trial run of MEMU train between Sangaldan – Reasi section of USBRL project. Jammu & Kashmir”.
When will the project complete?
The entire Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project which spans 272 kilometres is expected to be completed by the end of this year.
At present, trains ply from the Kanyakumari to Katra, and from Baramulla to Sangaldan in the Kashmir Valley.
The USBRL project has faced significant challenges due to complex geological and topographical conditions.
A report by Times of India quoted sources in the Railways as saying that the trial between Sangaldan and Reasi is expected to start from June 30.
Height of Chenab Rail Bridge
The Chenab Rail Bridge is a structural marvel standing at a towering 359 meters (around 109 feet) above the Chenab river and is around 35 meters taller than the Eiffel Tower in Paris.
The 1,315 metre-long bridge is part of a larger project which aims to make the Kashmir valley more accessible by the Indian Railway network.
On February 20, 2024, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the 48.1 km long Banihal-Sangaldan section of the USBRL project.
The project was officially approved in December 2004 and track laying was completed by March 2023.
The first phase covering the 118 km long Qazigund-Baramulla section was inaugurated in October 2009.
After which, in June 2013, the 18 km long Banihal-Qazigund section was inaugurated and the 25 km long Udhampur-Katra section was unveiled in July 2014.
Link to article –
WATCH: Train crossing world’s highest Chenab rail bridge for the first time
