In A First, Indian Army’s Winter Supplies Reach Kashmir Via Train

Last Updated:September 15, 2025, 16:07 IST

The train carried 753 metric tonnes of Advance Winter Stocking (AWS) loads for Indian Army units and formations in Jammu & Kashmir

Udhampur–Srinagar–Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) witnessed a historic milestone with the successful run of a Freight Train from BD Bari in Jammu’s Samba to Anantnag earlier this week.

A freight train carrying winter supplies of the Indian Army reached Kashmir’s Anantnag, marking a historic first.

Udhampur–Srinagar–Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) witnessed a historic milestone with the successful run of a Freight Train from BD Bari in Jammu’s Samba to Anantnag earlier this week.

The train carried 753 metric tonnes of Advance Winter Stocking (AWS) loads for Indian Army units and formations in Jammu & Kashmir. This strategic initiative underscores the Indian Army’s ongoing capability development efforts to ensure operational preparedness in challenging Himalayan terrain.

In a unique demonstration of dual-use logistics and military–civil fusion, the return rake of the Freight Train will transport Kashmiri apples to markets in Rest of India. This step not only strengthens the Army’s winter preparedness but also provides direct benefits to local communities. Farmers, who in the past suffered heavy losses due to road blockages caused by landslides and floods, will now be able to transport their produce seamlessly, ensuring both economic relief and livelihood security.

Earlier in June this year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Chenab Bridge, the world’s highest railway bridge, which connects the Kashmir Valley with the rest of India by a railway link.

Chenab Rail Bridge

Towering 359 metres above the riverbed, the Chenab Rail Bridge stands as the world’s highest railway arch bridge. It rises 35 metres higher than the Eiffel Tower. Spanning 1,315 metres, this steel arch structure is a key part of the Udhampur Srinagar Baramulla Railway Link and marks a significant milestone in Indian engineering.

Designed to endure harsh terrain and extreme weather, the bridge can withstand wind speeds of up to 260 kilometres per hour and is built to last 120 years. With a project cost of Rs 1,486 crore, it is not just a bridge but a symbol of India’s technical prowess. Structural steel suitable for temperatures ranging from minus 10 to 40 degrees Celsius has been used, ensuring resilience across seasonal extremes. The most sophisticated ‘Tekla’ software was used for structural detailing, enabling high precision in design and execution.

About the Author

Saurabh Verma

Saurabh Verma covers general, national and international day-to-day news for News18.com as a Senior Sub-editor. He keenly observes politics. You can follow him on Twitter –twitter.com/saurabhkverma19

Saurabh Verma covers general, national and international day-to-day news for News18.com as a Senior Sub-editor. He keenly observes politics. You can follow him on Twitter –twitter.com/saurabhkverma19

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