JAMMU, July 24: The Railways Ministry has sought time from Prime Minister Narendra Modi for inauguration of Reasi-Sangaldan section of the track which will link Reasi to Baramulla by train while remaining part of the project (Katra-Reasi) is expected to be completed by the year-end.Addressing a press conference in New Delhi on Railways budget, Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said Reasi to Sangaldan railway track has been completed. The train is already running between Sangaldan to Baramulla.
“We have written to the Prime Minister seeking time from him for inauguration of Reasi-Sangaldan section of Udhampur-Baramulla project,” he said.
Completion of Reasi-Sangaldan section of the track will take the train directly from Reasi to Baramulla. The train services are already running up to Katra, the base camp of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Ji shrine, from different parts of the country.
The remaining work on Katra-Reasi section (around 17 kilometers) is expected to be completed by the year-end, the Railways Minister said.
Commissioning of Katra-Reasi section will finally link the Kashmir Valley by train with rest of the country by the end of this year.
Earlier, there were reports that train services between Reasi to Baramulla could start around August 15.
Trial runs between Sangaldan and Reasi have been conducted multiple times and they were successful. The Commissioner Railways Safety has also undertaken the safety trial on the track.
With the expected commissioning of the 46 km long electrified route, the Railways would cover a total 255 km out of 272 km USBRL project leaving just 17 km of route between Katra and Reasi to be completed.
The Railways Minister said that Jammu and Kashmir has been allocated Rs 3694 crore in the annual average budget outlay for 2024-25 as compared to just to Rs 1044 crore during 2009-14.
Vaishnaw announced that four new Railway Stations will be developed as Amrit Stations in Jammu and Kashmir.
They include Jammu Tawi, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra, Udhampur and Budgam.
He said during 2014-24, 87 new tracks have been commissioned and 344 kilometers track has been electrified as against zero kilometer during 2009-14.
“Jammu and Kashmir now has 100 percent electrified track,” Vaishnaw said.
He added that six railway flyovers and under-bridges were also commissioned during 2014-24.
For new projects in Jammu and Kashmir, the Railways Minister said, Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) are being prepared. They include extension of railway line from Baramulla to Uri, which falls close to the Line of Control (LoC) with Pakistan.
