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42METRO RAIL NEWS -AUGUST 2025 www.metrorailnews.in Salient Features of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramula ProjectThe Implementation of the USBRL Project in PhasesThe Udhampur%u2013Srinagar%u2013Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project has been implemented in phases over the years. The project has been divided into three main sections:To facilitate execution, the project is further broken down into the following legs:Leg 1: Udhampur%u2013Katra (25 km)%u2022Katra %u2013 Chak Rakhwal%u2022Chak Rakhwal %u2013 UdhampurLeg 2: Katra%u2013Banihal (111 km)%u2022Katra %u2013 Reasi%u2022Reasi %u2013 Sangaldan%u2022Sangaldan %u2013 BanihalLeg 3: Banihal%u2013Baramulla (136 km)%u2022Banihal %u2013 Qazigund%u2022Qazigund %u2013 Anantnag%u2022Anantnag %u2013 Mazhom%u2022Mazhom %u2013 Baramulla1. Qazigund-Baramulla Rail Link (2009): This 119km section lies entirely within the Kashmir Valley, surrounded by mountain ranges on all sides. The final segment of this line was inaugurated on 28 October 2009 by then Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, which began rail connectivity within the valley.Commissioning Timeline of Qazigund-Baramulla Rail Link2. Qazigund- Banihal Rail Link (2013): The Qazigund%u2013Banihal section, a vital 18 km stretch of the Udhampur%u2013Srinagar%u2013Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project, was inaugurated on 26 June 2013 by then Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh. This segment includes the 11.2 km-long Pir Panjal Tunnel, one of the longest railway tunnels in India. The construction of this section was executed by IRCON International at an estimated cost of %u20b91,672 crore.3. Udhampur- Katra Section (2014)The 25.6 km Katra%u2013Udhampur railway line was inaugurated on 4 July 2014 and developed at an estimated cost of %u20b91,132.75 crore. The route comprises two segments: 1.15.5 km between Katra and Chak Rakhwal, 2.9.4 km between Chak Rakhwal and UdhampurLength272 km Completion Cost%u20b9 43,780 croreTotal Tunnels36 (119km)Bridges 943Engineering Marvels Chenab Bridge (World's Highest Rail Bridge)Anji Khad Bridge (India's first cable-stayed railway bridge)T-50 (India%u2019s Longest Tunnel-12.775 km)11 October 2008Anantnag - Mazhom66km14 February 2009Mazhom - Baramulla35km28 October 2009Quazigund - Anantnag18kmRAILWAY NEW DEVELOPMENT