USBRL Project Boosts Connectivity & Development In J&K

The completion of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Railway Line (USBRL) marks a historic milestone in India’s infrastructural journey, transforming a century-old vision into a powerful engine of socio-economic growth across the Kashmir Valley.

- Observer News Service

First envisioned in 1892 by Maharaja Pratap Singh and later reinforced by the British, the dream of connecting Kashmir with India’s railway network languished for decades due to harsh terrain, climate, and limited resources. The project gained momentum in 1994-95 when the final rail link between Udhampur, Srinagar, and Baramulla was sanctioned and declared a National Project in 2002.

In the decades since, major milestones have been achieved—from the Jammu-Udhampur link in 2005 to the recent Banihal-Sangaldan section opened in February 2024. These connections have brought life to remote corners of the state, previously cut off from mainstream development.