A major milestone in India’s railway infrastructure development has been achieved with the successful tower wagon test run on the Anji Khad Bridge, India’s first-ever cable-stayed railway bridge. Located in Jammu and Kashmir, the bridge is part of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project, which aims to connect the Kashmir Valley with the rest of the country. The test run is a critical step towards the completion of the bridge, which will help improve connectivity in the region’s challenging terrain.

The bridge features a 290-meter main span, an overall length of about 1,300 meters, and a height of 196 meters above the Anji Khad river. It is supported by 96 cables fastened to a single pylon on the Reasi side. The estimated cost of the project is Rs 458 crore, and once completed, the bridge will facilitate trains traveling at speeds of up to 100 km/h.

This project is part of a broader initiative that includes other notable infrastructure projects such as the Chenab Bridge, the world’s highest single-arch railway bridge, and the upcoming New Pamban Bridge, India’s first vertical lift bridge. These bridges will play a key role in enhancing the nation’s transportation network and overcoming geographical challenges.