On Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled significant railway initiatives totaling more than Rs 16,000 crore in Jammu and Kashmir. Part of the Udhampur – Srinagar – Baramulla Rail Link Project (USBRL), a 48.1-kilometer stretch from Banihal to Khari, Sumber, and Sangaldan, incurred a cost of Rs 15,863 crore, featuring the nation’s lengthiest railway tunnel spanning 12.77 kilometers.
Under the aegis of PM Modi, 220 projects valued at Rs 32,000 crore witnessed the laying of foundation stones, inaugurations, and dedications to the nation on that Tuesday. An official statement emphasized the transformative impact of these projects, promising reliable, all-weather transportation options that would supplant the precarious network of mountainous roads and footpaths.
From Baramulla Station, PM Modi initiated the maiden journey of the inaugural electric train, which commenced service from the Srinagar station. Simultaneously, another service connecting Sangaldan and Baramulla Station was introduced. The achievement was facilitated by the electrification of the 185.66 route kilometers (RKM) in the Baramulla – Srinagar – Banihal – Sangaldan sector, incurring a cost of Rs 470.23 crore. The ambitious USRBL project, sprawling across 272 kilometers and requiring an investment of Rs 41,119 crore, is compartmentalized into four legs, each managed for focused execution. By 2014, three legs were successfully completed, with the ongoing efforts primarily concentrated on the 111-kilometer Katra – Banihal section.
As per the progress report, a staggering 87% (97.4 kilometers) of the Katra – Banihal section involves extensive tunneling. Notably, 48 out of the 49 bridges slated for construction have reached completion. Within this section, seven stations are earmarked, with four located in the Reasi district and three in Ramban. Presently, diligent work is underway to fulfill the objectives set forth in the comprehensive rail development plan.
