New Delhi, October 17, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Jammu and Kashmir is witnessing a major expansion of transport infrastructure, with railway, road and aviation projects increasingly linking remote areas with national markets and improving access for residents, according to a government factsheet released on Saturday.
A key milestone is the Udhampur–Srinagar–Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL), which has connected the Kashmir Valley to India’s railway network. The project’s centrepiece, the Chenab Bridge in Reasi district, is recognised as the world’s highest railway arch bridge.
The USBRL project was inaugurated in June 2025 at a cost of Rs 43,780 crore. Stretching 272 kilometres through the rugged Himalayan terrain, it covers Udhampur, Reasi, Ramban, Srinagar, Anantnag, Pulwama, Budgam and Baramulla districts.
The project includes 36 tunnels with a combined length of 119 kilometres and 943 bridges. It is designed to improve passenger movement while creating new opportunities for trade and tourism. The Chenab Bridge, also inaugurated in June 2025, is 1,315 metres long.
Rail services have expanded alongside the infrastructure. The Vande Bharat Express began operating between Katra and Srinagar in June 2025, and the service was extended to Jammu Tawi Railway Station in April 2026. The journey between Jammu and Srinagar can now be completed in less than five hours.
New freight terminals are also helping transport Kashmiri produce, including apples and saffron, along with handicrafts, to markets across the country, according to the factsheet. The railway line is fully electrified across tunnels and open stretches.
Road connectivity is being strengthened in parallel. The factsheet said more than 215 kilometres of roads, including a tunnel and 320 bridges, had been constructed as part of the USBRL project to improve access for local communities.
In August 2026, foundation stones were laid for 110 road projects spanning 598.455 kilometres under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY)-IV. With an estimated cost of more than Rs 1,500 crore, the projects are expected to benefit 46,972 people across the Udhampur–Kathua–Doda–Kishtwar region.
The government factsheet also highlighted the role of the Sonamarg and Zojila tunnels in improving all-weather connectivity towards Ladakh. Srinagar airport’s expansion, along with plans for emerging aviation hubs at Udhampur and Kishtwar, forms part of the broader connectivity push.
The combined infrastructure development is expected to improve mobility, support businesses and farmers, and strengthen tourism links across Jammu and Kashmir.
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