KHARI-SUMBER, SANGALDAN RAILWAY STATIONS | CRS, team conduct first primary inspection on newly-laid rail line

Ramban, Feb 3:  Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS) and his team have conducted the first primary inspection of the newly laid (broad gauge) rail line between Khari to Sumber and Sangaldan in Ramban district on the Katra-Banihal section of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project in Ferozpur division of Northern Railways.

Sources in Northern Railway informed that the next CRS inspection would be conducted at any time after February 15, 2024.

Sources said that the CRS, accompanied by a team of senior railway officers of different sections, conducted the first primary inspection on motor trolleys from Khari to Sumber and Sangaldan railway stations on Thursday (February 1).

They inspected electric traction installation tracks; tunnels; viaduct Railway Stations at Khari, Sumber and Sangaldan, among other infrastructure.

The first high-speed train run was also conducted from Banihal-Khari to Sumber on the newly laid track on January 25, 2024.

Earlier the Commissioner of Railway Safety, Dinesh Chand Deswal, accompanied by Chief Administrative Officers, had conducted the final inspection on the 14.87 km Banihal-Khari section and a high-speed train run was also conducted from Banihal-Khari on the newly laid track on January 3, 2024.

The Commissioner of Railway Safety had said that the infrastructure was ready for commissioning the Banihal-Khari section.

“This is a safety process that we are completing because before starting the train operations, passenger safety is very important. The central government has legislated certain procedures for testing and commissioning. There are certain issues regarding the start of commercial operations. We are taking stock of all the things related to the commissioning and starting the train operation,” he had said.

The CRS submitted its detailed report on January 6, 2024, to the government for further action.

Sources in Northern Railway said that the Banihal to Sangaldan rail line work of the USBRL project in the Ramban district was also nearing completion.