New Delhi: The Government on Wednesday approved a
proposal to sanction over Rs 19,000 crore for the Udhampur-
Baramulla rail project that was announced over 17 years ago to
connect Kashmir Valley with Jammu.
The approval was given at a meeting of the Union cabinet,
official sources said, adding that the fund will be utilised
for building rail tracks from Katra in Jammu to Qazigund. The
deadline for completion of the project is 2017.
Sources said the delay in completion of the 290-km railway
project has led to cost escalation, necessitating sanction of
more money.
Union Minister Farooq Abdullah, who was keen on getting
this fund sanctioned, was also present in the cabinet meeting.
Work on the 119-km Qazigund-Baramulla track was completed
in 2009. It is still underway for Udhampur-Katra and Katra-
Qazigund sections and the deadlines for completion of the two
sections have been set at 2013 and 2017 respectively.
PTI
