Piyush Goyal reviews progress of Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link

Railway minister Piyush Goyal on Wednesday reviewed the progress of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link that would help the region remain connnected with the rest of the country all round the year.

Expressing satisfaction with the progress the project, he said the aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir has to be fulfilled by completing the project and called upon the engineers to expedite work of the remaining portion on mission mode.

Northern Railway General Manager Ashutosh Gangal informed the rail minister that in spite of Ramban and Reasi districts were declared Covid Red and Orange zones the work on the project continued following the SOPs.

“Artisans camps and isolation centers have been provided on sites. As many as 366 people working on various points were detected with the virus, but all have recovered well,” he said.
CEO and Chairman of Railway Board V K Yadav were also present in the meeting held via video conferencing. Chief Admirative Officer of USBRL Project Vijay Sharma apprised Goyal about the latest status of work on the last leg of the project between Katra-Banihal.

Ninety-five per cent work of the arch work of the Chenab Bridge, the world’s tallest railway bridge has been completed, the minister was informed.
The Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link is a national project undertaken by the Indian Railways for construction of broad-gauge railway line through the Himalayas with the aim of connecting the Kashmir region with rest of the country.

The all-weather, comfortable, convenient and cost effective mass transportation system will be the catalyst for the overall development of the northern most alpine region of the country.

Construction of the first three phases of the project has been completed and the line is operational between Baramulla-Banihal in Kashmir Valley and Jammu-Udhampur-Katra in Jammu region. Work on the intervening 111 Km section Katra-Banihal, the most arduous and treacherous portion due to its geology and extensive riverine system replete with deep gorges is ongoing.