Kashmir Comes Closer: Direct Train To Valley From Rest Of India Soon - In Pics

The Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Railway Line (USBRL) project, which will link Kashmir valley with the rest of India, is on the verge of completion, a top railway official said on Thursday. The direct train service will bring much relief to the travellers by cutting down the travel time from six hours to 3.5 hours between Srinagar and Jammu. 

The project will also boost the economy as the goods will be transported through the train. It will be easier to ship horticulture items like apples and other agricultural products from Jammu and Kashmir. The government also plans to launch the Vande Bharat Metro train service between Jammu and Srinagar, which is highly anticipated by the people.  

Deepak Kumar, Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO) Northern Railway, told news agency Kashmir News Observer that the work on the 111-km-long Katra-Banihal rail line, which is the most challenging part of the project, has been completed by 95 to 96 per cent. He said that only a small portion of work remains.

The work on the Katra-Banihal section is ongoing and that the train service will probably start from January or February. He said that once completed, the train service will run directly from Jammu and other parts of the country.

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw had announced that the Udhampur-Banihal track, connecting Jammu with Srinagar, will be completed by December this year or early next year. He also said that a special Vande Bharat train will be started on the USBRL project and that a Special Training Academy for Engineers will be created at Jammu.

The USBRL project consists of 38 tunnels covering 119 km, with the longest one being 12.75 km, making it the country’s longest transportation tunnel. Additionally, 927 bridges, including the iconic 359-meter-high Chenab Bridge and the country’s only cable-stayed rail bridge across the Anji Khad River, were constructed on the steep slope of the terrain.

Several works are being executed in Kashmir valley and some works are in pipeline to facilitate the passengers from outside the state. He said that Budgam station and Anantnag station are being developed with waiting halls and goods terminals.