Srinagar, May 06: In a significant development towards connecting Kashmir valley with the rest of the railways of the country, Member Infrastructure, Railway Board Anil Kumar Khandelwal on Monday conducted Motor Trolley inspection from Sangaldan onwards upto Katra of Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project. He also stated that each day Indian Railway is edging closer to connecting Kashmir to the rest of the Railway network.
Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO) of Northern Railways said that Kumar also carried out an intensive and detailed inspection of the Srinagar- Sangaldan-Katra section of the prestigious National Project of USBRL along with the senior officers of NR & KRCL.
He started his inspection from Srinagar end by train/inspection Car upto Sangaldan. Thereafter he conducted Motor Trolley inspection from Sangaldan onwards upto Katra.
“On the way he critically inspected the ongoing balance critical works in Sawalakote yard and tunnel number T-33 near Katra which is critical for commissioning of the entire project,” the spokesman said.
He also expressed satisfaction at the pace of progress and instructed the project authorities to closely monitor the work of Tunnel T-33. This project is widely acknowledged as one of the most challenging railway line endeavors in the Indian subcontinent, traversing through the young Himalayas fraught with geological complexities, he added.
Notably, the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his Jammu visit on February 20 this year, had virtually dedicated to the nation new rail line between Banihal-Khari-Sumber-Sangaldan (48 Km) and the newly electrified Baramulla-Srinagar-Banihal-
He had also flagged off the first electric train in the valley besides train service between Sangaldan and Baramulla stations, stating that all these projects would improve connectivity, ensure environmental sustainability and boost the overall economic development of the region.
In terms of the USBRL project, the Banihal-Khari-Sumber-Sangaldan section is significant as it features the usage of Ballast Less Track (BLT) all along the route providing a better riding experience to the passengers. Also, India’s longest transportation tunnel T-50 (12.77 Km) lies in this portion between Khari-Sumber.
The project, particularly its Katra-Banihal section, is being completed under the extremely challenging geological conditions.
I love to hear that Srinagar jammu railway link is commissioned successfully.