Srinagar, Jan 01 (KNS): In a momentous development for India's rail infrastructure, the Anji Khad cable-stayed bridge, part of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla rail link, has successfully completed rigorous load tests with freight trains and trucks. This milestone brings the long-awaited project closer to connecting the Kashmir Valley with the rest of India, offering a new chapter in the valley’s transport history.
The 725-meter bridge, located in Jammu’s Reasi district, is an engineering marvel that is set to play a pivotal role in improving connectivity. Stretching across the Anji Khad River, it features 96 cables with a combined length of 653 kilometers. The bridge, balancing on a 193-meter-high central pylon, is considered one of the most challenging and significant pieces of infrastructure in the area, providing a seamless rail link between Katra and Reasi.
On the final phase of the 17-kilometer Katra-Reasi section, the completion of the T-33 tunnel, which runs through the foothills of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine, marks the culmination of years of work.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp ChannelThe tunnel’s successful finish on December 13 has cleared the path for the final inspection by the Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS), expected in the second week of January 2025. The CRS’s approval will trigger the launch of the highly anticipated Vande Bharat train services, which will dramatically reduce travel time between Delhi and Srinagar to under 13 hours.
The Anji Khad bridge was subjected to a series of load tests with a freight train carrying 3,300 tons and 57 dumpers loaded with 9 tons each. The combined weight of over 33,500 tons was safely handled, reassuring engineers and officials of the structure’s strength and safety.
With the upcoming inauguration of the Vande Bharat Sleeper train, the valley’s transportation infrastructure will undergo a major transformation, boosting economic ties and tourism to the Kashmir Valley. The successful load tests on the Anji Khad bridge, along with the completion of crucial tunnels and track work, mark a turning point for Jammu and Kashmir’s railway connectivity. (KNS)