Vande Bharat to run on Jammu-Srinagar route

Pointing out that the railway line when completed will reduce the travel time between Jammu and Srinagar to 3.30 hrs, he said that Vande Metro will also operate between the two capital cities of the Union Territory, practically making them one city where one leaves Srinagar for Jammu in the morning and returns home in the Valley by the evening, and vice versa.

He also announced the construction of four cargo terminals on the Banihal-Baramulla rail stretch, adding that the land for three of the terminals has already been identified. The biggest benefit of these cargo terminals will be that transportation of apple and other goods from Kashmir to elsewhere in the country will become easy, he said. “One will bring the goods to these terminals, pack them and these will be transported in air-conditioned coaches to their destination within a short time and at less expenses,” he pointed out.

Union Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw inspects the bridge on Sunday. PTI

About maintenance of the railway track and other infrastructure built in a highly difficult mountainous terrain, he said that a special training academy for railway staff will also be set up in Jammu.

About the highest railway bridge over Chenab, Vaishnaw said that the laying of railway track has been completed and the electrification work will begin now. “The target is to complete the Jammu-Srinagar rail connectivity by December 2023 or January 2024,’’ he said.

Built across Chenab river between Bakkal and Kauri in Reasi district at a height of 359 m (1,178 ft) from riverbed, the arch bridge costing Rs 1,400 crore is 35 mts taller than Eiffel Tower of Paris. An important link between Katra and Banihal railway line, the bridge is part of the Rs 35,000 crore USBRL Project.

After inspecting the bridge on Saturday, Ashwini Vaishnaw, said that two further tests of a motor trolley and bolero customised rail operation will be conducted. As of yet, tests for high-velocity winds, excessive heat, earthquake-prone areas, and hydrological effects of rising water levels have all been conducted, he added.

Referring to the strength of the bridge, the minister said that its foundation on one side of the river is equal to the size of half of a football ground and nearly 28,000 tonne of steel has been used to build it. To make it strong enough to withstand a seismic activity up to 8 Richter scale, a special technology involving 18,000 special anchoring deviate bars which isolate the foundation from the superstructure was used. As a result, in case of any seismic activity, foundation takes the entire pressure and it does not go to the superstructure, he added.