In an exclusive interview with NewsStation, Shobhan Choudhary, the General Manager of Northern Railway, disclosed that the railway tunnel T1, now renamed T33, encountered adverse effects due to sudden water and debris ingress. The 3-kilometer-long tunnel experienced a breakthrough in December, raising hopes for the completion of the Katra-Banihal railway route. However, on January 20, water and mud influx severely hampered the ongoing work.
As a response to the setback, Indian Railways is redirecting its attention towards initiating train operations between Banihal and Sangaldaan. The aim is to commence operations on this segment before the upcoming general elections in March.
This project is widely acknowledged as one of the most challenging railway line endeavors in the Indian subcontinent, traversing through the young Himalayas fraught with geological complexities. The project execution for the balanced portion between Katra and Banihal (111 KM) has been divided among three agencies: Northern Railway (5 Km), KRCL (53 Km), and IRCON (53 Km).