USBRL Project likely be completed by December 2024: Union MoS

Ramban, Nov 19: Union Minister of State (MoS) for Railways Ravneet Singh Bitu today visited Reasi and inspected the railway station there and highest railway bridge Anji Khad (Chenab Bridge) of Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project.

He told reporters in Reasi that the project will likely be completed by December this year. He said the project will be inaugurated by Prime Minister, Narender Modi in January 2025.

The Prime Minister, Railway Minister, and the entire Ministry of Indian Railways are focused on it and trying their best to get the services started by January 2025.

The Minister said that the dream railway project would significantly boost tourism, trade, and business opportunities in Kashmir valley. He acknowledged the hard work of workers and officers involved in completion of remaining work on the dream project.

He appreciated the combined efforts of IRCON International Limited, responsible for the construction, and Konkan Railway Corporation Limited (KRCL) for its technical expertise, which have turned this engineering dream into reality.

Ravneet Singh Bitu Tuesday evening posted on ‘X’ .“Under the visionary leadership of Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi Ji and Hon’ble Union Minister for Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw, the Indian Railways is committed to ensuring the highest standards of safety and innovation for passengers.”

The escape tunnel is a critical feature designed to ensure the safety and rescue of passengers in the event of a disaster inside the main tunnel. As per safety norms, every tunnel longer than three km is equipped with a parallel escape tunnel.

On the stretch from Katra to Banihal, there are eight escape tunnels spanning a total length of 67 kms.

It is important to mention here that the work on Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project is almost completed with all infrastructure, security deployment except some work on the three kms, tunnel between Reasi and Katra.