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Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) Completion: Katra-Sangaldan section completion ensures year-round, faster rail access to Kashmir Valley.
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Pir Panjal Railway Tunnel (Banihal Railway Tunnel): India’s longest transportation railway tunnel at 11.2 km, part of USBRL.
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Connectivity: Connects Quazigund (Kashmir Valley) with Banihal (Jammu) under the Pir Panjal range.
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Strategic Importance: Only broad-gauge mountain railway tunnel in India, vital for USBRL’s core segment.
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Historical Context: Maharaja Pratap Singh proposed a rail link to the Kashmir Valley in 1898 but multiple routes were suggested but were not materialized over years.
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Early Hurdles: Proposed routes faced challenges like high altitude, operational difficulties, and enormous costs.
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Incremental Progress: Efforts continued post-independence, with the extension of rail lines and surveys.
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National Project: Declared a “national project” by Atal Bihari Vajpayee in 2002, emphasizing its importance.
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Milestones: Gradual opening of sections from Anantnag to Baramulla, Qazigund to Anantnag, and Udhampur-Katra.
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Sangaldan-Banihal Section: Commissioned in February 2024, completing the USBRL.
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Significance: Connects the Kashmir Valley with the rest of the country, reduces travel time between Jammu and Srinagar, and eliminates road travel disruptions due to weather.