Umaisar Gull Ganie
Srinagar, Nov 23: To connect Kashmir valley with the rest of the country, the much-awaited Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Railway Line (USBRL) project is almost completed, top railway official said on Thursday.
Talking to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO) Northern Railway, Deepak Kumar said the work on Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Railway Line (USBRL) project is almost completed.
“95 to 96% of the work on the 111-km-long Katra-Banihal rail line has been completed, with only a small portion of work remaining,” he said.
He said, “Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has already announced that Udhampur-Banihal track, connecting Jammu with Srinagar, will be completed by December this year, or early next year.”
Meanwhile, another top official, wishing not to be named, told KNO that the work on the topographically challenging 111 km section between Katra and Banihal is ongoing.
He said once completed, the train service will directly run from Jammu and other parts of the country.
The project will probably take a month or two, which means train service is likely to start from January or February, he said.
“The USBRL project comprises 38 tunnels covering 119 km, with T-49 being the longest at 12.75 km, making it the country’s lengthiest transportation tunnel. Additionally, 927 bridges, the iconic 359-meter-high Chenab Bridge and only cable-stayed rail bridge in the country were constructed across the steep slope of Anji Khad River,” he said.
Chief Area Manager, (CAM) Kashmir, Northern Railways Sakib Yousuf said they are expecting the trains to run very soon from all parts of the country towards Kashmir valley as most of the work on USBRL project almost is completed.
To facilitate the passengers from outside the state, he said, several works are being executed in Kashmir valley and some works are in pipeline.
“Budgam station is an Amit station, for passengers waiting halls and others facilities are being developed there, similarly in Anantnag station, work for goods terminal (goods shed) is currently going on,” he added—(KNO)
