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What TV doesn't, print can't; we deliver.
JAMMU: The Ministry of Railways has approved the final location survey of five lines, all of which fall in the Kashmir division while a survey of no new line has been approved in the Jammu division.
This information was provided by Union Minister of Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw on Wednesday in a comprehensive reply in Lok Sabha in response to a joint question by BJP MPs including Jugal Kishore Sharma (Jammu-Poonch), Bidyut Baran Mahato (Jamshedpur) and Jamyang Tsering Namgyal (Ladakh).
The Union Minister said, “ Final Location Survey of five lines has been sanctioned in Jammu and Kashmir. The lines include a doubling of the Baramulla-Banihal section (135.5 kilometres), Baramulla-Uri (50 kilometres), Sopore-Kupwara (33.7 kilometres), Awantipora-Shopian (27.6 kilometres) and Anantnag-Bijbehara-Pahalgam (77.5 kilometres).
On the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project, the Union Minister of Railways said, “ It is perhaps the most difficult new railway line project undertaken in the country post-Independence as the terrain passes through the Himalayas, which are full of geological surprises and numerous problems.”
He said, “The work of the new line in Jammu and Kashmir is being undertaken under the USBRL project. Out of the total 272 km of the project, 161 km has already been commissioned.”
“The work on the Katra-Banihal (111 km) section has been taken up. The anticipated cost of the project is Rs 37,012 crore, against which, expenditure of Rs 34,261 crore has been incurred up to March 2023 on the project. An outlay of Rs 5,310 crore has been allocated for the year 2023-24,” the Union Minister said.
He said the Katra-Banihal section predominantly involves tunnelling. 97.42 km out of 111 km, which is 87 per cent of the total length of the Katra-Banihal section, is in tunnels and the maximum length of tunnel T-49 is 12.77 km, which will be the longest transportation railway tunnel in the country.
Union Minister said the Railway has made the world’s highest Railway Bridge over the Chenab River in the Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir. The iconic Chenab Bridge is 1,315 metres long having an arch span of 467 metres and a height of 359 metres above the river bed.
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“Indian Railways’ first cable-stayed bridge has been constructed over Anji Khad. Its bridge deck is 331 metres above the river bed level and the height of its main pylon is 193 metres,” he added.
Union Minister said that employment generation is a significant aspect of its impact.
“The project has generated more than 553 lakh man-days of indirect employment so far. Another crucial facet of the USBRL project’s socio-economic development efforts has been the construction of over 215 km of approach roads, which include construction of a tunnel and 320 small bridges,” the Union Minister said.
“At present, nine pairs of trains are running over the Kashmir valley section due to which travel time of passengers has been reduced and travel experience has also become more comfortable than bus services. The passenger services and facilities are being improved by major redevelopment of Jammu Tawi railway station,” he said.
Union Minister also informed the Lok Sabha that following international norms, adequate safety provisions have been kept in mind for the USBRL project.
“All tunnels having lengths more than two kms have been provided with mechanical ventilation systems to ensure air quality as per international norms,” he said. Besides, according to him, a fire fighting system consisting of fire hydrants and fire extinguishers, to promptly address and contain potential fire incidents has been provided in all the tunnels. “Proper access roads have been constructed to all escape tunnels and adits,” the Union Minister said.
To ensure the safety of passengers, he said that trains plying between Baramulla and Banihal are being escorted by RPF staff.
According to the Railways Minister, the expansion of the rail line in Jammu and Kashmir is benefiting the local community and businesses by improving transportation and connectivity, boosting tourism, and facilitating the movement of goods and services.
