Pir Panjal Tunnel

Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) Completion: Katra-Sangaldan section completion ensures year-round, faster rail access to Kashmir Valley.

Pir Panjal Railway Tunnel (Banihal Railway Tunnel): India’s longest transportation railway tunnel at 11.2 km, part of USBRL.

Connectivity: Connects Quazigund (Kashmir Valley) with Banihal (Jammu) under the Pir Panjal range.

Strategic Importance: Only broad-gauge mountain railway tunnel in India, vital for USBRL’s core segment.

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.

Early Hurdles: Proposed routes faced challenges like high altitude, operational difficulties, and enormous costs.

Incremental Progress: Efforts continued post-independence, with the extension of rail lines and surveys.

National Project: Declared a “national project” by Atal Bihari Vajpayee in 2002, emphasizing its importance.

Milestones: Gradual opening of sections from Anantnag to Baramulla, Qazigund to Anantnag, and Udhampur-Katra.

Sangaldan-Banihal Section: Commissioned in February 2024, completing the USBRL.

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.