India’s ambitious Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link project will see train services start on its 48.1-kilometre-long crucial segment, the Banihal-Khari-Sumber-Sangaldan section, on February 20.
As per a PTI report, a source in the railways said that with this, the Indian Railways will get a step closer to connecting Srinagar with Kanyakumari. The source also called the “Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project is one of the most ambitious Himalayan railway projects post Independence”.
PM Modi to inaugurate the Banihal-Khari-Sumber-Sangaldan section
Railways sources have said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to inaugurate the section virtually. He would flag off a train from Sangaldan. However, there is still no official confirmation on the same, PTI reported.
Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link project
Aiming to the lay the foundation for an all-weather, comfortable and economically-feasible transportation network which connects the Himalayan areas with the rest of India, the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link project navigates the challenging terrain of the Pir Panjal ranges, a senior railways official said. The project will integrate Kashmir Valley with the Jammu region and the national rail network, covering a total distance of 272 kilometers, with 161 kilometers already commissioned.
As per railway authorities, the Banihal-Khari-Sumber-Sangaldan route, built at a cost of Rs 15,863 crore, is now prepared for service. Consequently, the current train routes from Baramulla to Banihal will be extended to Sangaldan, situated near the Ramban district headquarters.
The section encompasses 16 bridges, out of which 11 are major ones and one road overbrdige. Over 90% of it is in tunnels, with 11 tunnels making up 43.37 kilometres, including the country’s longest transportation tunnel, T-50. This tunnel spans 12.77 kilometres in the Khari-Sumber section, a senior official revealed.
In a bid to maintain safety and carry out rescue work, there are thee escape tunnels having a combined length of 30.1 killometres. “Additionally, the section includes 30 curves spanning 23.72 kilometres. To further enhance passenger safety and comfort, several advanced features have been incorporated, such as ballastless tracks and canted turnouts (a first for the Indian Railways),” the official added.
Additionally, enhanced safety features such as CCTV monitoring and cutting-edge tunnel-safety technology, which includes ventilation and firefighting systems, have been implemented.
Regarding electrification progress, sources indicate that the electrification on the Baramulla-Srinagar-Banihal-Sangaldan segment of the USBRL project, covering 185.66 route kilometers and serving 19 railway stations, is complete.
Constructed at a cost of Rs 470.23 crore, this electrified section is capable of accommodating state-of-the-art Vande Bharat trains. Noteworthy enhancements comprise a 25-KV OHE within the longest operational tunnel (tunnel T-80 in the Banihal-Quazigund section), specialised equipment for high-altitude operations, and 132/33-KV traction substations at altitudes surpassing 1,600 meters above sea level, sources revealed.
(With PTI inputs)
