The Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Railway Link (USBRL) project is heading towards completion with 90% of its sanctioned price of ₹37,012.26 crore utilised, a senior railway official mentioned on February 27. With the completion of the project, Kashmir will likely be linked with the remainder of the nation.
The official mentioned the celebrated nationwide project, being personally monitored by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, is progressing “very well” and the works are happening in “top gear” in any respect fronts.
“The latest sanctioned cost of the USBRL project is ₹37,012.26 crore. Cumulative booking of expenditure till February 23 is ₹3,34,21 crore which is 90.29% of the total sanctioned cost,” Chief Administrative Officer, USBRL, S. P. Mahi instructed PTI.
The Railway Ministry sanctioned the development of the railway line from Udhampur to Baramulla by way of Srinagar in phases – 25 km Udhampur to Katra in 1994, 118 km Qazigund to Baramulla and 129 km Katra to Qazigund in 1999.
In view of the significance of the USBRL in offering seamless and hassle-free connectivity to Kashmir, the 272 km-long USBRL project was declared as a “National Project” in 2002.
Out of the whole 272 km USBRL project, 161 km was commissioned in phases with first section 118-km Qazigund-Baramulla part commissioned in October 2009 adopted by 18-km Banihal-Qazigund in June 2013 and 25-km Udhampur-Katra in July 2014, whereas the work on 111-km Katra-Banihal stretch is happening.
“Indian Railways is moving closer to connecting Kashmir to the rest of the railway network day-by-day. The USBRL project is progressing very well. The world’s highest railway bridge across Chenab river has been completed and track-linking work on it has started, while work on Indian Railways ‘first cable-stayed bridge’ is nearing completion,” Mr. Mahi mentioned.
He mentioned the works are progressing in high gear in any respect fronts. “The morale of officers and staff working on the project is very high and they are highly motivated to complete this prestigious work expeditiously.” “The alignment of USBRL Project is a culmination of a large number of tunnels and bridges, which are to be implemented in highly rugged and mountainous terrain with the most difficult Himalayan geology,” he mentioned.
He mentioned the project entails 38 tunnels (mixed size of 119 km), the longest tunnel (T-49) is having a size of 12.77 km and has been made by means of on February 15 final yr.
The official mentioned the Katra-Banihal part predominantly entails tunnelling 163.82 km (97.42 km fundamental tunnel and 66.40 km of escape tunnel). At current 163.08 km of tunnel mining — 97.02 km (24 numbers) out of 97.42 km (27 numbers) of fundamental tunnel and 66.06 km (7 Nos.) out of 66.4 km (8 Nos.) have been accomplished. Tunnel lining of 149.23 km — 93.17 km (20 Nos.) out of 97.42 km (27 nos) of the primary tunnel and 56.06 km (2 Nos) out of 66.4 Km (8 Nos) have been accomplished.
More than 43.5 km Ballastless Track (BLT) has additionally been laid out of the whole scope of 118 km, the official mentioned. The CAO USBRL mentioned there are 37 bridges (mixed size of seven km) and consists of 26 main bridges and 11 minor bridges.
“At present 22 major bridges and 11 minor bridges have been completed and work on all fronts are in full swing.” He mentioned these bridges embrace the enduring Chenab bridge (general size 1315 m, arch span of 467 m and peak of 359 m above river mattress) which is the very best railway bridge on this planet.
Mr. Mahi mentioned the Chenab bridge has been accomplished, observe linking and a few ancillary works akin to grating fixing for arch deck safety and inspection platforms are in progress.
The official mentioned Indian railway’s first cable-stayed bridge can also be being constructed on Anji Khad. The launch of the tremendous construction of Anji bridge is in a sophisticated stage of progress and 39 segments out of 47 launched.
He mentioned electromechanical for Katra-Banihal is sanctioned and all tenders which embrace built-in sub-stations, energy provide association, tunnel air flow, tunnel lighting, hearth combating and SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) have been awarded and work is in progress.
The electrification works of Katra-Banihal part are sanctioned and work is in progress, he mentioned, including electrification works in Banihal-Baramulla part have been accomplished in September final yr. In addition, greater than 205 km entry highway has additionally been accomplished.
“Construction of a wide network of access roads has provided connectivity to far flung and inaccessible remote areas, leading to socio-economic development,” he added.
