Srinagar, Nov 03: In a momentous development, eight coaches of the first electric train have successfully arrived at the Central Railway Station in Budgam, signifying a major advancement in the region’s railway infrastructure. Officials have confirmed that an additional eight coaches are currently in transit to further enhance the railway network.
A senior official from the Northern Railways told Rising Kashmir that eight coaches of the electric train have arrived in Kashmir, with another eight coaches destined for the upcoming second electric train enroute to the valley.
“This development aligns with last year’s proposal from the Ministry of Railways, outlining plans for seven to eight electric trains to serve the Kashmir region,” he said.
However, it is anticipated that some additional time will be required to complete the transportation of all the coaches.
Furthermore, significant progress has been made on the electrification front, with a 55-kilometer electrification project completed between the Baramulla and Budgam railway sections.
Abid Shah, the Additional General Manager at Ircon International, highlighted this achievement, noting that the electrification project for the Baramulla-Budgam railway sections has been finalized.
He said the remaining section between Budgam and Banihal is in the advanced stages of electrification and is expected to be completed within the next few weeks.
“The electrification project spans a total route length of 137.73 kilometers and includes three main sub-stations in Qazigund, Budgam, and Baramulla, which will supply power to the railway line’s overhead equipment,” the official said.
Shah mentioned that all three sub-stations are prepared, with Qazigund and Baramulla having already received electricity from the Jammu and Kashmir Power Development Corporation.
The remaining electrification work for the Banihal section is also on track to meet the stipulated timeline.
Notably, on October 22, Union Minister of Railways, Communications, Electronics, and Information Technology, Ashwini Vaishnaw, shared that the Baramulla-Banihal railway track, connecting Jammu to Srinagar, is scheduled for completion by December of this year.
He highlighted the significant increase in the project budget, from 1000 Crore to 6000 Crore, which has substantially accelerated the progress of the project.
Vaishnaw expressed optimism about the imminent completion of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link Project (USBRL) by the end of the year, emphasizing the significant progress in connecting Jammu with Kashmir’s railway network.
