On 6th June 2025, the Indian government inaugurated the 272 km Udhampur – Srinagar – Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL), which was completed 30 years after its approval. The line connects Indian state railway IR's network with the Kashmir Valley. The line will initially be operated by two specially designed Vande Bharat electric multiple units (EMU), which will cross the 359 m high Chenab Bridge, considered the highest single-arch railway bridge in the world. The line ultimately cost around €4.4 billion (INR 437 billion) to build and includes 36 tunnels and 943 bridges. The journey time between Katra and Srinagar will be reduced to around three hours. The project posed considerable technical challenges, particularly in the seismically active areas of the Shivalik Hills and Pir Pranjal Range. The electrification of the 82 km section between Katra and Dharam, including the Chenab Bridge, was named one of the top projects for 2025.
