NEW DELHI, August 9: For the first time, a freight train reached Kashmir, marking a new era for business and development.
The train carrying cement arrived at Anantnag Goods Shed from Rupnagar in Punjab, marking a significant milestone in connecting the Kashmir region to the national freight network.
The arrival of a freight train carrying cement is set to accelerate infrastructure projects and improve living standards for the people of Kashmir.
The inaugural freight train was loaded with 21 BCN wagons of cement. The journey, spanning approximately 600 kilometers, culminated at the newly commissioned Anantnag Goods Shed today in less than 18 hours. This event marks the first-ever cement loading specifically for this facility, underscoring its readiness to support a new era of logistical and economic growth in the Kashmir region.
The cement transported on this train will be used for crucial projects, including the construction of roads, bridges, public infrastructure, and residential housing in the Kashmir Valley.
The logistics for this groundbreaking journey were executed with precision. An indent was placed with Northern Railway at 23:14 hrs on August 7, 2025, with the rake placement occurring at 09:40 hrs the following day i.e 08th August, Loading was completed by 18:10 hrs on August 8, 2025, with the train departing from the Gujarat Ambuja Cement Limited (GACL) facility in Rupnagar, Punjab at 18:55 hrs. The freight was hauled by an Electric WAG-9 locomotive (Loco No. 32177, TKD, Trip 08/09), highlighting the modern capabilities of the national railway network.
The arrival of this first freight train is not just a logistical achievement but a powerful symbol of progress and integration, paving the way for a more connected and prosperous Kashmir Valley.
This landmark event marks the operational debut of the newly commissioned Banihal-Sangaldan-Reasi-Katra section of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project.
With this development, the Kashmir rail network is now seamlessly integrated with the Indian Railways freight corridor, enabling the direct movement of goods from across the country into the Valley.
This development is set to boost economic activity by creating new trade opportunities, reducing transportation costs for businesses and essential commodities, ensuring year-round supply delivery despite weather challenges, and strengthening regional connectivity within the national rail framework.
Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project of a total length of 272 Km has been recently commissioned. USBRL project covers the districts of Udhampur, Reasi, Ramban, Srinagar, Anantnag, Pulwama, Budgam, and Baramulla of Jammu and Kashmir.
The USBRL project is one of the most difficult new railway line projects undertaken in the country post-independence. The terrain passes through the young Himalayas, which are full of geological surprises and numerous problems. In this project, the Railway has made the world’s highest Railway Bridge over the Chenab River in the Reasi district of Jammu & Kashmir. The iconic Chenab Bridge is 1315 m long, having an arch span of 467 m and a height of 359 m above the river bed. Indian Railway’s first cable-stayed bridge has been constructed over Anji Khad in this project. Its bridge deck is 331m above the river bed level, and the height of its Main pylon is 193m.
The USBRL project has made substantial socio-economic contributions to the region, with employment generation being a significant aspect of its impact. The project has generated more than 5 Cr. man-days of employment. Another crucial facet of the USBRL Project’s socio-economic development efforts has been the construction of over 215 km of approach roads, which include the construction of a tunnel and 320 small bridges. This road network has helped the local population in improving their connectivity with other areas and also improving in socio-economic status.
Under international norms, adequate safety provisions have been kept in the USBRL project. All tunnels having a length of more than 2 Km have been provided with mechanical ventilation systems to ensure air quality. Firefighting systems comprising fire hydrants and fire extinguishers have been provided to promptly address and contain potential fire incidents in all the tunnels. Further, to ensure the safety of passengers, escape tunnels have also been made where the length of the tunnel is more than 3 Km. A total of 66 km of escape tunnels have been made in this project.