Ehsan Fazili/Srinagar

The seamless Kashmir to Kanyakumari train passing over the world’s highest railway bridge over the Chenab river will chug by December 2022.

This new deadline has been given by the Indian Railway after the completion of the steel arch of the Chenab bridge on the 272-km Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla rail link on Monday. The bridge is an engineering marvel and was the most difficult part of the constructing the railway line to Kashmir.

Railways said the construction of the bridge over the Chenab river was the biggest civil-engineering challenge faced by any railway project in India in recent history. “This was one of the most difficult parts of the project. This achievement is a major leap towards the completion of the 111 km-long winding stretch from Katra to Banihal.” Railways said.

As train passes over the Arch bridge, the passengers would be able to see the river flowing 359 metres below. After the last of the metal pieces was fixed to complete the arch the engineers are busy in removing the stay cables, filling of the concrete in the arch rib, erection of the steel trestle, launching of the viaduct and track laying work.

Right now, the Kanyakumari-Kashmir train runs up to Katra. At the other end there’s a railway line from Banihal to Baramulla in the Kashmir Valley. The engineers had been working hard to negotiate through the Peerpanjal ranges to lay the railway track and connect the two ends of the ambitious project.

The 111-km link passes through the hinterlands of Reasi and Ramban districts of Jammu. Once completed it will become an all-weather, comfortable, convenient and cost-effective means of transportation to and from Kashmir.

This railway track is expected to usher in development in the hitherto under-developed areas of Jammu region and promote tourism across Jammu and Kashmir.