Indian Railways’ Uninterrupted Endeavor: Only 48 Meters to Tunnel T1 Breakthrough in USBRL

The Indian Railways has been working relentlessly to complete the ambitious Katra-Banihal railway route, a 111-kilometer-long rail link, connecting Katra to Banihal in Jammu and Kashmir. In this extensive railway project, the most significant challenge lies in the construction of the USBRL rail tunnel T1 in Katra. Presently, a mere 48 meters of excavation work remains to be done in this tunnel.

Tunnel T1 of the USBRL project passes through the Main Boundary Thrust (MBT), a geological structure in the Himalayan region characterized by dolomite formations that tend to seep water, posing a considerable risk during tunneling. In 2017, during the initial excavation, water ingress issues led to the suspension of work. However, when the project resumed, careful technical measures were employed to ensure the safety of the excavation process.

The completion of this tunnel holds immense significance as it is the final piece of the puzzle in the Katra-Banihal railway route. The Railways is determined to connect Srinagar directly to other parts of the country, including running the Vande Bharat Express train between Jammu and Srinagar. The pace at which Tunnel T1 excavation is progressing suggests that it might be completed before December, paving the way for further construction activities, including track laying, concrete work, membrane work, and telecom signaling. The Rail Ministry aims to achieve this milestone before the next general elections, making significant progress towards the completion of the Katra-Banihal railway route.