Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link most difficult project: Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw
Vaishnaw said on Wednesday. «The USBRL project is perhaps the most difficult new railway line project undertaken in the country post-Independence. The terrain passes through young Himalayas, which are full of geological surprises and numerous problems,» Vaishnaw said in a written reply in the Lok Sabha.
Vaishnaw was responding to questions raised by three BJP MPs, Jamyang Tsering Namgyal, Bidyut Baran Mahato and Jugal Kishore Sharma, who asked the minister to provide details of the steps taken to extend the Indian Railways network in Jammu and Kashmir and how the said expansion is benefiting local communities and businesses.
«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,» Vaishnaw said.
He added, «The work on the Katra-Banihal (111 km) section has been taken up. Anticipated cost of the project is Rs 37,012 crore, against which, expenditure of ₹34,261/- crore has been incurred up to March, 2023 on the project. An outlay of ₹5,310 crore has been allocated for the year 2023-24.»
Talking about the challenges in the project, the railway minister said the Katra-Banihal section predominantly involves tunnelling.
According to him, 97.42 km out of 111 km, which is 87 per cent of the total length of 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.
«Railway has made the world's highest Railway Bridge over Chenab river in Reasi District of Jammu and Kashmir. The iconic Chenab Bridge is 1,315 metres long having arch span of 467 metre and height of 359 metre above river bed,» Vaishnaw said.
