Kashmir rail link opens direct route for trade and travel across India

Direct rail connectivity links Kashmir to national markets

Kashmir’s horticulture and handicraft trade has entered a new era following the operationalisation of the 272-kilometre Udhampur–Srinagar–Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL), providing the Valley with its first all-weather railway connection to the rest of the country.

The engineering feat, anchored by the iconic Chenab Rail Bridge and the Anji Khad Bridge, overcomes long-standing geographical barriers across the rugged Pir Panjal mountain range. Passenger services, including the flagship Vande Bharat Express, are now running alongside freight operations, opening seamless transit for Kashmir’s famous produce to major commercial hubs like Delhi and Mumbai.

Slashing transit times for local growers

For decades, freight movement out of the Valley relied on highway transport through weather-vulnerable mountain roads, often leading to delays that hurt perishable goods. The new direct rail connection allows Kashmiri growers to transport apples, cherries, dry fruits, and traditional handicrafts into distant urban centres in record time.

"The horticultural products from this region are going in the minimum possible time to be able to reach markets like Mumbai and Delhi," said Western Railway Chief Public Relations Officer Vineet Abhishek. He noted that the return line ensures equal efficiency for incoming essential goods, such as foodgrains, milk, fertilisers, cement, salt, and automobiles, securing supply chains into the Valley year-round.

Overcoming extreme mountain engineering

The construction of the project required overcoming immense geographical hurdles across steep gorges, deep river valleys, and complex geological terrain. A vital 111-kilometre stretch between Katra and Banihal posed the hardest construction challenge of the entire alignment.

Indian Railways tackled these hurdles by building state-of-the-art structures, including the world’s highest railway arch bridge over the Chenab river and Anji Khad Bridge, India’s first cable-stayed railway bridge. Abhishek noted that while the Pir Panjal terrain posed humongous challenges, the railway authorities took up the task and delivered the landmark infrastructure on schedule.

High praise from passengers and industry

Travellers on the newly connected route, including those aboard the Vande Bharat Express, have welcomed the shift from uncertain road travel to smooth, high-speed rail.

Nikhil, a civil engineer travelling along the new line, expressed admiration for the speed and execution of the engineering, noting that complex tunnel and bridge projects of this scale often took decades elsewhere. Passenger Kuldeep Singh highlighted how the line transforms daily travel to Srinagar, eliminating the long, arduous journeys previously required by road.

By integrating Kashmir into the main Indian railway grid, the project provides a permanent economic boost for the region, strengthening national integration, tourism, and industrial logistics.