Kashmir rail project nearing completion, will be inaugurated soon: Minister

Jammu, July 24: Union Minister for Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw Wednesday stated that the Centre allocated Rs 3694 Cr for railway projects in J&K, in the union budget for the Financial Year 2024-25.

In the same vein, he announced that the long-awaited Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project was nearing completion and very soon it would be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

While addressing a press conference in the union capital, he said, “The project has almost reached its completion stage and only 17-km section - T-1 tunnel i.e., tunnel between Katra and Reasi is remaining. Work on that section is also in full swing. Chenab bridge and up to Sangaldan, it is already operational."

"From Sangaldan up to the Reasi section has been completed and the Commissioner Railway Safety (CRS) certificate too has been received. So, the dream project of Jammu and Kashmir has (almost) become a reality now. Soon we’ll request Prime Minister Narendra Modi to spare his time for its inauguration,” Railway Minister informed.

Vaishnaw said that annual average budget outlay for railway infrastructure and safety projects in J&K during the period 2009-14 was Rs 1044 Cr thus allocation of Rs 3694 Cr in 2024-25 was a substantial increase by 3.5 times approximately.

He said, “2024-25 allocation is 254 percent more than the average of 2009-2014 approximately.”

Regarding projects in J&K, he stated, “The work related to DPRs of new projects in J&K is also going on. The projects related to extension of rail-line from Baramulla to Uri; two more lines there and construction of four terminals between Budgam to Baramulla section are underway. Work is also going apace to develop four stations viz., Budgam, Jammu Tawi, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra and Udhampur Railway Stations, as Amrit Stations, in J&K.”

Giving a brief account of projects commissioned during 2014-2024, Vaishnaw stated that new tracks of 87 km were laid; 344 km electrification, against zero km during 2009-14, was done. “J&K is 100 percent electrified. Besides six rail flyovers and under-bridges were commissioned during this period,” he informed.

The work on the ongoing project, related to laying of new tracks of 272 kms at the cost of Rs 41,159 Cr, was underway, Vaishnaw said.

HIMALAYAN TUNNELLING METHOD BEING USED IN J&K, UTTARAKHAND, NORTH EAST

The Railway Minister informed that a novel Himalayan Tunnelling Method (HTM) was being used by the railway for tunnelling in J&K, Uttarakhand, Himachal, Sikkim and other areas of North-East.

“Tunnelling has been a very challenging process across Himalaya as they are young mountains. It is different from the New Austrian Tunnelling Method (NATM) which is used across Europe for tunnelling. HTM has gained popularity and curiosity across the globe as many places in the world have young mountains,” he said.