Railways Successfully Conducts Trial Run on India’s First Cable-Stayed Rail Bridge in J&K; Ashwini Vaishnaw Shares Video
Railways Successfully Conducts Trial Run on India’s First Cable-Stayed Rail Bridge in J&K; Ashwini Vaishnaw Shares Video
The Railways did a trial run of a tower wagon on the Anji Khad Bridge, India’s first cable-stayed rail bridge in Jammu and Kashmir’s Reasi district. This successful trial run sets the stage for rail services to Kashmir starting in January next year.
Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw posted a video of the trial run on the social media platform X.
Watch the video here
1st electric engine rolling through Tunnel No. 1 and the Anji Khad Cable Bridge.
— Ashwini Vaishnaw (@AshwiniVaishnaw) December 25, 2024
📍J&K pic.twitter.com/YOjkeJmDva
The railway ministry stated, “Advancing connectivity in Jammu and Kashmir, the trial run of a tower wagon on the Anji Khad Bridge, India’s first cable-stayed rail bridge, was completed successfully for the USBRL project.”
The construction of the railway bridge at Anji Khad was finished last month and received commendation from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Railway Link (USBRL) project aims to connect the Kashmir Valley with the rest of the country through rail.
According to officials, the Anji Khad Bridge, standing at a height of 331 meters above the riverbed with a single pylon, is a significant engineering achievement under the USBRL project.
This bridge, considered a remarkable engineering feat, is supported by 48 cables on its lateral and central spans. Construction on its pylon began in 2017, and it now stands at 191 meters above its foundation level.
It’s the second-highest railway bridge, following the iconic arch bridge over the Chenab at Kauri, which holds the title of the world’s highest railway bridge at 359 meters above the riverbed, towering 35 meters higher than the Eiffel Tower in Paris.
The Anji Khad Bridge spans 473.25 meters in total length, including a 120-meter viaduct and a 94.25-meter central embankment, as per officials.
In November, Minister of State for Railways Ravneet Singh announced that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to inaugurate the Vande Bharat train, linking Kashmir to New Delhi via the USBRL in January.
The Railways has finished 255 kilometers of the 272-kilometer USBRL project, with the train services anticipated to start in phases. Only a short segment between Katra and Reasi remains to be completed by December.
