Train connectivity in Kashmir: Railways prepare DPR for 158 km new lines – check route

New railway lines in Kashmir Valley

Vaishnaw further said that Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) have been prepared for new rail lines, including the Qazigund–Srinagar–Budgam doubling project (118 km) and the Baramulla–Uri new line (40 km). He added that after preparation of DPR, sanctioning of project requires consultation with various stake-holders including State Government 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,” the minister said.

Avantipore-Shopian new railway line in Kashmir

The Railways also dropped the proposal to extend rail connectivity in Pulwama district of Jammu & Kashmir after completion of survey. “To extend rail connectivity in Pulwama district of Jammu & Kashmir, a survey for
Avantipore (Kakapora) – Shopian (28 km) New line has been completed. However, the project is assessed to be infeasible and therefore it is dropped,” Vaishnaw said in a written statement in Rajya Sabha on Friday.

USBRL project in Jammu and Kashmir

Last year, the Ministry of Railways commissioned 272-km long Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project. This national project covers the districts of Udhampur, Reasi, Ramban, Srinagar, Anantnag, Pulwama, Budgam and Baramulla of Jammu and Kashmir.

In a statement, the national transporter said: “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.”