Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) Project

About Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) Project:

• The USBRL Project involves the construction of a railway line from Udhampur to Baramulla joining the Kashmir valley with the Indian Railways network.
• Aim: To connect Kashmir to the rest of the country and give a push to development in the Valley.
• Total Length:272 km
• The Project was declared as a “National Project” in 2002.
• The alignment of USBRL involves construction of a large number of Tunnels and Bridges in highly rugged and mountainous terrain with most difficult and complex Himalayan geology.
• This Project involves 38 Tunnels (combined length of 119 Km), the longest Tunnel (T-49) having a length of 12.75 Km and is the country’s longest transportation tunnel. 
• There are 927 nos. of Bridges (combined length of 13 Km). These bridges include the iconic Chenab Bridge (Overall length 1315 m, Arch span of 467 m and height of 359 m above Chenab river bed) which will be the highest railway bridge in the world. 
• Indian railway’s first cable-stayed bridge is also being constructed on Anji Khad.

Key facts about Anji Khad Bridge:

• It is an under-construction railway bridge in the Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir.
• It will be the first cable-stayed railway bridge in India.
• Features:
  • It is an asymmetrical cable-stayed bridge balanced on the axis of a central pylon, and it has tunnels on both ends.
  • The cable-stayed portion of the Anji bridge is 472.25 metres, while the total length of the bridge is 725.5 metres, which is divided into four parts, including an embankment.
  • The central span of the bridge is 290 metres; its total deck width will be 15 metres.
  • It stands at the height of 331 metres above the Anji river bed.
  • Trains can run up to 100km/h, and the bridge can withstand wind speeds up to 213 km/hr.

Q1) What is the Chenab Rail Bridge?

The Chenab Rail Bridge, also known as the Chenab Arch Bridge, is a concrete arch bridge being built over the Chenab River in the Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir. It will be the highest railway bridge in the world, with a height of 359 meters above the riverbed. The length of the Chenab bridge will be 1,315 meters with 17 spans, of which the span of the main arch across the Chenab river will be 467m.

Source: Kashmir Railway on Track: Around 95% Work Completed on Katra-Banihal Section

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