Indian Railways has successfully conducted a trial run of a tower wagon on the Anji Khad Bridge, the country’s first cable-stayed rail bridge, located in Jammu and Kashmir’s Reasi district.

This marks a significant milestone in enhancing railway connectivity in the region, with full services expected to begin by January 2025.

Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw shared a video of the trial on social media, celebrating the progress of the critical project.

“The trial run on the Anji Khad Bridge, a key part of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Railway link (USBRL) project, has been successfully completed,” the Ministry of Railways confirmed.

Completed last month, the Anji Khad Bridge is a remarkable feat of engineering, featuring a single pylon rising 331 metres above the riverbed.

Supported by 48 cables, the bridge stretches 473.25 metres in length, with a 120-metre viaduct and a 94.25-metre central embankment.

This bridge ranks as India’s second-highest railway bridge after the Chenab Bridge, which holds the world record at 359 metres above the riverbed.

Both structures are part of the ambitious USBRL project aimed at improving connectivity in Jammu and Kashmir.

The USBRL project spans 272 kilometres, with 255 kilometres already completed. The remaining section, between Katra and Reasi, is expected to be finished by the end of this month.

Once completed, the project will reduce travel time between Srinagar and Jammu from six hours to 3.5 hours.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to flag off the Vande Bharat train in January 2025, providing a faster link for passengers traveling between Kashmir and Delhi.

Despite facing natural challenges such as extreme temperatures, earthquake zones, and difficult terrain, the project is nearing completion, bringing much-needed connectivity to the region.

(With an input from IANS)