Residents threaten agitation for station near world’s highest rail bridge in Reasi
Reasi (J&K), May 27 (PTI) Residents of Kauri in Reasi district, the home to world’s highest rail bridge over the Chenab, are up in arms in support of their demand for a railway station which they believe will safeguard the future of their coming generations after parting away their land for the project.
The 1.3-km Chenab rail bridge — located 359 metres above the riverbed and 35 metres higher than the iconic Eiffel Tower in Paris — forms a crucial link in the 111-km stretch from Katra to Banihal, which is part of the prestigious Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Railway Link (USBRL) project.
The work on the famed bridge is nearing completion but the railway station is still nowhere in sight, the Kauri residents said, seeking personal intervention of Railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and Jammu and Kashmir Lt Governor Manoj Sinha.
“At the start of work on the bridge about 20 years ago, we were promised of railway station in our area to cater to the heavy rush of prospective tourists to the iconic bridge Today, we are feeling deceived as the dream shown to us to uplift our economy and secure the future of our children seems not being fulfilled,” local resident Angrez Singh told PTI.
He claimed that the railway officials had abandoned the plan to have a station near the notable bridge, citing “some technical issues.”
“Many people gave up their land for the project with a hope for a better future. They are rendered unemployed and the future of their children also looks bleak,” Singh said.
The base of the steel and concrete arch bridge between Bakkal and Kauri, 42 km from Reasi town, was completed in November 2017, allowing for the start of the construction of the main arch which was done in April 2021.
