NEW DELHI, Feb 6: Union Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw told Rajya Sabha on Friday that the 34 km Sopore-Kupwara new line, despite completed survey and DPR, was shelved as infeasible.
DPRs are prepared to enhance border connectivity via Qazigund-Srinagar-Budgam doubling (118 km) and Baramulla-Uri new line (40 km). Sanctions require ongoing stakeholder inputs, NITI Aayog review, and Finance Ministry nod, with no fixed timelines.
The commissioned 272 km Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL)—spanning Udhampur, Reasi, Ramban, Srinagar, Anantnag, Pulwama, Budgam, and Baramulla—has transformed the region socio-economically.
It generated over 5 crore man-days of employment and constructed 215+ km of approach roads, including a tunnel and 320 small bridges, improving connectivity and living standards.
USBRL’s all-weather link to India’s rail network is set to dramatically boost Kashmir Valley tourism.
