SRINAGAR: A special Vande Bharat train successfully completed its trial run on the Katra–Sangaldan stretch of the Udhampur–Srinagar–Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) on Tuesday. This test run is part of the preparations for the inauguration of the Chenab Bridge, which is set to be unveiled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on April 19.
On the day of the launch, PM Modi will flag off the Vande Bharat Express connecting Jammu and Srinagar, marking the start of services between Katra and Baramulla. The Prime Minister is also expected to travel across the Chenab Bridge during the inaugural journey.
A comprehensive security setup has been put in place across the entire route, with special attention given to the Katra–Sangaldan section. Railway officials confirmed that two Vande Bharat trains will operate—one in each direction between Srinagar and Katra—on the launch day.
The Chenab Bridge, stretching 1,315 meters, with a central arch span of 467 meters, stands at a height of 359 meters above the riverbed, making it taller than the Eiffel Tower. The bridge is built to withstand wind speeds of up to 266 km/h and involved the use of over 28,000 metric tons of steel. It also incorporates a state-of-the-art cable crane system to transport materials across a 915-meter-wide gorge.
The USBRL project aims to establish a reliable and all-weather rail link connecting Kashmir to the rest of India. So far, 209 kilometers of the total 272-kilometer route have been commissioned in stages since 2009. The final stretch, from Reasi to Katra, was completed in December 2024.
