Anji Khad Bridge: Railways completes trial run on India’s first cable-stayed rail bridge in Jammu & Kashmir

The Indian Railways has successfully conducted the trial run of a tower wagon on the Anji Khad Bridge, India’s first cable-stayed rail bridge, located in Jammu and Kashmir’s Reasi district. This achievement is a significant milestone in the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Railway Link (USBRL) project, which aims to connect the Kashmir Valley with the rest of the country. The trial run paves the way for the anticipated launch of rail services to Kashmir in January 2025.

Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw shared a video of the successful trial on social media platform X, highlighting the engineering marvel. The Railway Ministry issued a statement declaring the trial a step forward in enhancing connectivity in Jammu and Kashmir. "The trial run of a tower wagon on India’s first cable-stayed rail bridge, the Anji Khad Bridge, was successfully completed as part of the USBRL project," the ministry said.

Watch the video here

The Anji Khad Bridge, an engineering masterpiece, stands tall with a single pylon rising 331 meters above the riverbed. Described as a "true engineering marvel," the bridge is supported by 48 cables on its lateral and central spans. Construction of the pylon began in 2017, and the structure reaches 191 meters above its foundation level. With a total length of 473.25 meters, the bridge features a 120-meter viaduct and a 94.25-meter central embankment.

This bridge is the second-highest railway bridge in India, after the world-famous Chenab Rail Bridge, which stands 359 meters above the riverbed and is 35 meters taller than the Eiffel Tower.