NEW DELHI: To extend the rail connectivity of existing Srinagar-Baramulla section, a survey for Sopore to Kupwara (34 km) New Line has been sanctioned and the Detailed Project Report (DPR) has been prepared. However, the project has been dropped because it was found to be infeasible. To further improve rail connectivity, in the Border region, the Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) of following projects have also been prepared: Qazigund – Srinagar – Budgam doubling (118 km) and Baramulla to Uri new line (40 km).
After preparation of DPR, sanctioning of project requires consultation with various stake-holders including State Governments and necessary approvals viz. appraisal of NITI Aayog, Ministry of Finance etc. As sanctioning of projects is a continuous and dynamic process, exact timelines cannot be fixed.
Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project of total length 272 Km has been recently commissioned. USBRL project covers the districts of Udhampur, Reasi, Ramban, Srinagar, Anantnag, Pulwama, Budgam and Baramulla of Jammu and Kashmir.
The USBRL project has made substantial socio-economic contributions to the region, with employment generation being a significant aspect of its impact. The project has generated more than 5 Cr. man-days of employment.
Another crucial facet of the USBRL Project’s socio-economic development efforts has been the construction of over 215 km of approach roads, which include construction of a tunnel and 320 small bridges. This road network has helped the local population in improvement of their connectivity with other areas and also improvement in socio-economic states.
With the all-weather, reliable and comfortable rail connectivity of valley portion with rest of the Indian Railway network, tourism will get a big boost.
This information was provided by the Union Minister for Railways, Information & Broadcasting and Electronics & InformationTechnology, Ashwini Vaishnaw, in a reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today.
Meanwhile, in a lively Question Hour and Zero Hour session in the Rajya Sabha on Friday, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw addressed key concerns on infrastructure development, including potential Metro services in Jammu, stalled projects due to land and environmental issues, demands for premium train connectivity, and ongoing railway initiatives in Kerala.
During Question Hour, BJP-nominated MP Gulam Ali raised a question on plans for a Metro in Jammu.
Responding, Railway Minister Vaishnaw said he would pass his question to Manohar Lal Khattar, who looks after Metro, but acknowledged the unique challenges of operating rail systems in high-altitude regions like Jammu and Kashmir.
“The operation of rail in high altitude areas is complicated; we should have a special design for the trains in Jammu and Kashmir. The design is ready, and we are about to decide on this,” he stated, indicating progress towards tailored solutions that could pave the way for enhanced urban mobility, potentially including Metro-like services.
He also said the Railways will not lay spurs of the main railway line as it adversely affects the apple orchards, and farmers have raised concerns.
