Kashmir Railway

This article is about the railway linking Baramulla to Jammu. For the railway to Ladakh, see Bilaspur-Mandi-Leh Railway. For the railway to Poonch, see Jammu-Poonch railway.
Kashmir Railway

A map of the Kashmir railway showing the Katra-Laole section

A map of the Kashmir railway showing the Katra-Laole section
Overview
Locale Jammu and Kashmir
Termini Baramulla
Jammu Tawi
Operation
Owner Indian Railways
Operator(s) Northern Railway zone
Technical
Line length 345 km (214 mi)
No. of tracks 1
Track gauge 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in)
Route map

Kashmir Railway route map

Legend
0Baramulla
to Kupwara (planned)
 8Sopore
 15Hamre
 23Pattan
 31Mazhom
 46Budgam
Srinagar-Kargil-Leh railway (planned)
 57Srinagar (Nowgam)
 63Pampore
 Jhelum Bridge
 69Kakapora
 79Awantipura
 86Panchgam
 93Bijibehra
to Pahalgam (planned)
 100Anantnag
 107Sadura
 112Qazigund
 120 Hillar Shahabad
Pir Panjal Railway Tunnel
 (11 kilometres (6.8 mi))
 130Banihal
 Charil
 Repora
 Laole
 Kohli
Sangaldan Tunnel
 (7 kilometres (4.3 mi))
 Sangaldan
 Baralla
 Surukot
 Bakkal
 Chenab Bridge
 Salal
 Anji Khad Bridge
 Reasi
 260Katra
Chakarwah
285Udhampur
 294Ramnagar
 Tawi Bridge
 316Manwal
 324Sangar
 328Baljata
to Poonch (planned)
 338Jammu (Jammu Tawi)
 To Jalandhar-Jammu line

The Kashmir Railway in India is a broad gauge rail line[1] which is being built to connect the state of Jammu and Kashmir with the rest of the country. Officially termed the Jammu Udhampur Srinagar Baramulla Railway Link, the railway line starts from Jammu and will travel for 345 km (214 mi) to Baramulla on the northwestern edge of the Kashmir Valley. The route crosses major earthquake zones, and is subjected to extreme temperatures of cold and heat and inhospitable terrain, making it an extremely challenging engineering project.[2]

Forming a part of Firozpur division of the Northern Railway zone, the line has been under construction since 1983 by various railway companies. It will link the state's winter capital, Jammu, with the summer capital, Srinagar, and beyond. The project has had a long and chequered history but serious progress was made only after it was declared a National Project in 2002. The scheduled date of completion was 15 August 2007. However, unforeseen complications have pushed back the deadline to 2017 at the earliest. The rail-link from Banihal to Katra, connecting Kashmir valley with the rest of India, would be completed by 2020, as per the latest (optimistic) update from the railways. On ground construction indicates a 2023-2024 readiness at the earliest.[3][4]

History

British era

1897: The railway line from Jammu to Sialkot was first built, becoming the first railway in the state of Jammu and Kashmir.

The first train to Jammu from Sialkot, 1897.
Photo courtesy of searchkashmir.org

1898: Maharaja Pratap Singh first explored the possibility of a railway line connecting Jammu with Srinagar. For various reasons including complications with the British government and political frictions this was put on hold.

1902: Britain proposed a rail link following the Jhelum River connecting Srinagar to Rawalpindi. This was not popular as the residents of the state lived mostly in Jammu and Srinagar and interacted via the more southerly Moghul road. Politics did not favour this proposal.

1905: Britain again proposed a link between Rawalpindi and Srinagar. Maharaja Pratap Singh approved a rail line between Jammu and Srinagar via Reasi through Moghul road. This audacious line was to have involved a 2 ft (610 mm) or 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) gauge railway climbing all the way to the Moghul road pass at 11,000 feet (3,353 m) over the Pir Panjal Range compared to the present day Pir Panjal Railway Tunnel (Banihal Rail Tunnel)'s average elevation 1,760 m. As planned it would have been electric-powered and would have used the mountain streams as a source of hydro-electric power. In retrospect it was perhaps just as well that it was not built. Though it would have been spectacular, the narrow gauge and high-altitude pass would have meant it was not all weather and also constrained to low speed and capacity, similar to the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway.

Post-independence

A view towards the massive Pir Panjal range the railway line must pass through.
Kashmir Railway Line near Anantnag railway station
Kashmir Railway, Qazigund

1947: With partition, the Jammu-Sialkot Line was closed and Jammu was disconnected from Indian railways. A new line from Pathankot to Jammu needed to be laid. It was proposed that it be extended to Srinagar, but the preliminary survey of the Pir Panjal quickly squashed the project as unaffordable.

1983: The Prime Minister kicks off the line from Jammu Tawi to Udhampur. An optimistic schedule of five years and a budget of ₹500 million (US$7.4 million) was set. As detailed below what happened to this line amply illustrates the wisdom of the earlier planners who had abandoned their plans when faced with reality.[5]

Jammu Tawi station, start of the railway

1994: The railway minister declared the need for a railway line to Baramulla and the Kashmir Valley. Upon further review it was revealed that this would be a 'hanging' railway running from Qazigund to Srinagar and on to Baramulla. The line from Katra to Qazigund through the mountains still looked unattainable.

July 2002: The Central Government declares the line a National Project. This meant that it would be constructed and completed irrespective of cost funded entirely by the Central Government would fund the entire project. This was important, as the railways did not have the now estimated cost of ₹60 billion (US$883.2 million) for the entire project. By the Indian Railways' allocation it would have taken 60 years to complete the project. A challenging deadline of 15 August 2007, Independence Day, was also set.

13 April 2005: The 53 km (33 mi) long Jammu-Udhampur line is inaugurated, 21 years and ₹5.15 billion (US$75.8 million) after its commencement, marking the completion of "Leg 0".[6][7] The line had 20 major tunnels and 158 bridges. Its longest tunnel was 2.5 km (1.6 mi) and its highest bridge was 77 m (253 ft) - the highest railway bridge in India. This is in the relatively easy Shivalik Hills.

2008: The Ministry of Railways ordered cancellation of the project on the existing alignment between Katra and Qazigund, due to suspected geological instabilities. It instructed Konkan Railway to stop all work on the section, including the Chenab Bridge, and to terminate all contracts issued for work on the section, pending consideration of major changes in the alignment.[8][9]

The Railway Board constitutes a high-level committee to examine the feasibility of "Leg 2" of the project and to rework the alignment through the Pir Panjal Mountains,[10] proposing to undertake a fresh survey for construction of the line on a shorter alignment.[11]

11 October 2008: The first isolated section of 66 km (41 mi) between Manzhama and Anantnag on Leg 3 inaugurated, 14 months behind schedule. The train service will operate twice a day in either direction. Complications continues to plague the connection to the plains.[12][13]

14 February 2009: The train service on Leg 3 was extended to Baramulla.[14][15]

June 2009: Work on the section between Katra and Qazigund resumed after the committee set up to review the alignment approved the existing one with minor changes.[16] Additional geo-technical tests of the rock strata and changes to other portions of the alignment changes were to be reviewed.[17]

28 October 2009: The 18 km (11 mi) long section from Anantnag to Qazigund was inaugurated by the prime minister marking the completion of Leg 3.[18]

2011-12: Boring of the new 11.215 km (7-mile) long Banihal-Qazigund tunnel connecting Bichleri Valley of Banihal with Qazigund in Kashmir Valley completed in October 2011, its lining and laying of rail tracks was completed in the next one year and trial run commenced on 28 December 2012.

Banihal railway station (2014)

2013: Pir Panjal Railway Tunnel and Banihal station opened.

9 December 2013: The trial train arrives at Katra.

11 June 2014 : A trial train from Delhi arrived prior to the inauguration of the Udhampur-Katra line and the Katra Railway Station.

4 July 2014 : The train journey on Udhampur-Katra line was officially inaugurated by the Prime Minister. The train is named "Shree Shakti Express"

Four sections of the railway

The Kashmir Railway project is divided into four sections:[2]

Progress on the four sections

Leg 0 is complete and operational since 2005.

Leg 1 is complete and operational since July 2014.

A railway bridge in Banihal

This leg had repeatedly missed promised opening dates in the past including December 2005, December 2006[20] and May 2009.[21] Work on the section, which had been suspended for two years due to collapse of a portion of a tunnel, resumed in September 2009,[22] The section was planned to be commissioned by PM on 2 February. However, passenger train service could not start as planned due to apprehensions expressed by CRS about one bridge and tunnel. The route includes 7 tunnels and 30 small and big bridges.[23] The permit for Vaishno Devi Darshan will be integrated with the train ticket.[23] This section inaugurated on 4 July 2014 by PM Narendra Modi.

Leg 2 under construction, likely to be completed in 2019-20.

Construction of Leg 2 has been plagued by technical difficulties over the choice of alignment and disputes with contractors[17] and is not expected to be completed until 2017-18.[19][24][25][26] This is the most difficult section of the rail line, with 62 bridges and multiple tunnels with a cumulative total length of 10 km out of total 129 km. It also requires laying of 262 km of access roads connecting 147,000 people in 73 villages, out of which 160 km connecting 29 villages has been completed.[27] In July 2008, the work in some section of the Katra-Banihal section was suspended for considering a realignment.[28] The alternative alignment proposed by the railway reduced the length of track from 126 km to 67 km. The expert committee appointed by the railway board has recommended to abandon 93 km of the previously approved alignment.[29] On 12 November 2014, Delhi highcourt has directed the Central Government to constitute a committee to review the 126 km long section of the rail link.[30]

A 18 km stretch of Leg 2 between Quazigund and Banihal was commissioned on 26 June 2013.[31]

The stretch of 18 km includes a 11.215 km (7-mile) long Pir Panjal railway tunnel, also known as Banihal railway tunnel, connecting Bichleri Valley of Banihal with Qazigund in Kashmir Valley. Pir Panjal Railway Tunnel is India's longest and Asia's sixth longest railway tunnel (After the 53 km long Seikan Tunnel in Japan, followed by the 28 km long Taihang Tunnel, the 28 km long West Qinling Tunnel, the 21 km long Wushaoling Tunnel in Gansu, and the 21 km long Lüliangshan Tunnel, these four all in China). The tunnel is 8.40 m wide with a height of 7.39 m. The tunnel includes a three-metre wide service road along the length of the tunnel for maintenance of railway tracks and emergency relief. The tunnel's average elevation at 1,760 m (5,770 ft) is 440 m (1,440 ft) below the existing road tunnel.[27] The boring was completed in four years in October 2011, its lining and laying of rail tracks was completed in the next one year and trial run commenced on 28 December 2012.

The tunnel facilitates transportation during winters when inclement weather forces closure of the Srinagar-Jammu highway. The rail tunnel reduces the distance between Quazigund and Banihal by 17 km (from 35 km by road to 17.5 km by train).[32] Banihal railway station is situated at 1,702 m (5,584 ft) above mean sea level. Trains run from Banihal to Qazigund through the tunnel.

The work on various tunnels, bridges and related infrastructure is under way and the Katra to Banganga section (5 km) is likely to be operational way before the final completion date of 2017-18 for the whole project.[33]

Leg 3 is complete and operational since October 2009.

The railway network in Kashmir from Baramulla to Banihal is now 130 km long. Since 25 km long Udhampur-Katra section was commissioned in October 2013, only the 148 km long Katra-Banihal section of "Leg 2" remains to be constructed. Until the Katra- Laole section of Kashmir railway gets constructed in another five years in 2017-2018, people can travel from Jammu Tawi or Udhampur to Banihal by road and take the train from Banihal to Srinagar through the Banihal railway tunnel.

Infrastructure and construction

The Kashmir Railway is perhaps the most difficult new railway line project undertaken on the Indian subcontinent by the Government of India. The terrain passes through the young Himalayas, which are full of geological surprises and numerous problems.[2] The alignment for the line presents one of the greatest railway engineering challenges ever faced, with the only contest coming from the Qingzang Railway in Tibet that was completed in 2006 and crosses permanently frozen ground and climbs to more than 5,000 m (16,000 ft) above sea level. While the temperatures of the Kashmir Railway area are not as severe as in Tibet, it does still experience extreme winters with heavy snowfalls. However, what makes the route even more complex is the requirement to pass through the Himalayan foothills and the mighty Pir Panjal range, with most peaks exceeding 15,000 ft (4,600 m) in height.

The route includes many bridges, viaducts and tunnels. The railway is expected to cross a total of over 750 bridges and pass through over 100 km (62 mi) of tunnels, the longest of which is 11.215 km (7 miles) in length.[2] The greatest engineering challenges involve the crossing of the Chenab river, which involves building a 1,315 m (4,314 ft) long bridge 359 m (1,178 ft) above the river bed, and the crossing of the Anji Khad, which involves building a 657 m (2,156 ft) long bridge 186 m (610 ft) above the river bed.[34] The Chenab Bridge will be the highest railway structure of its kind in the world, 35 m higher than the tip of the Eiffel Tower in Paris. Both bridges are to be simple span bridges. Weathering steel is planned to be used to provide an environment friendly appearance and eliminate the need to paint the bridge. The design and structure is very similar to the New River Gorge Bridge. The project is being managed by the Konkan Railway Corporation. Completion is scheduled for 2012, four years after the first isolated section of the route was opened for local passenger services, and it requires the use of 26,000 tonne of steel.

All tunnels including the Banihal Tunnel will be constructed using the New Austrian Tunneling method. Numerous challenges have been encountered while tunneling through the geologically young and unstable Shivalik mountains. In particular water ingress problems have been seen in the Udhampur to Katra section. This has required some drastic solutions using steel arches and several feet of shotcrete.

Even though the line is being built through a mountainous region, a ruling gradient of 1% has been set to provide a safe, smooth and reliable journey. More importantly bankers will not be required, making the journey quicker and smoother. It will be built to 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) Indian broad gauge laid on concrete sleepers with continuous welded rail and with a minimum curve radius of 676 m. Maximum line speed will be 100 kilometres per hour (62 mph).[2] Provision for future doubling will be made on the major bridges. Additionally provisions for future electrification will be made, though the line will be operated with diesel locomotives initially, as Kashmir is an electricity scarce region at present. There will be 30 stations on the full route, served by 10–12 trains per day initially.

The Kashmir line will connect with the Indian Railways railhead at Jammu Tawi. The 53 km railway line from Jammu to Udhampur was opened in 2005.

Rolling stock

A Passenger Train at Srinagar Railway Station

Passenger services will be provided by the new aerodynamic High Power diesel multiple units, which have certain special features incorporated into them. The air-conditioned coaches have wide windows for a panoramic view, anti-skid flooring, sliding doorways, heating facilities, an attractive colour scheme and executive class reclining seats inside. The driver's cabin has a heating and defogging unit to take care of cold climatic conditions and is fitted with single lookout glass windows to give a wider view. A snow-cutting type cattle guard has been attached at the driving end of the train for clearing snow from the tracks during winter. In view of the peculiar climate of the valley, the 1,400-horsepower diesel engine for the train has been provided with a heating system for a quick and trouble-free start in the winters. A public information system with display and announcement facilities are included in the coaches which have pneumatic suspension for better riding comfort. There is also a compartment for physically challenged people with wider doors.[35]

Freight rolling stock for the new route will be from the existing national fleet. Freight services conveying grain and petroleum products will run in between the 10–12 passengers services that are planned to operate daily.

Maintenance of all rolling stock and locomotives will be at the newly built Badgam workshop just north of Srinagar.

Signalling and communications

Three-aspect colour light signalling is being installed on the route to maintain train safety. GSM-R equipment may be installed in the future to improve the quality of the system. There has also been mention of the Konkan Railway Corporation's ACD (Anti-Collision Device) being supplied for equipment on the line.

Security

Security for the line has been a major concern, with the regions the line passes through continuing to face terrorist challenges.[36] Due to proximity with the Line of Control between Pakistan Administered Kashmir and Indian Administered Jammu & Kashmir, these challenges aggravate. Plans for close circuit cameras at all major bridges, tunnels and railway stations have been made. Lighting is provided on all major bridges and inside tunnels. Additionally security arrangements to protect the infrastructure are being discussed.

Project execution agencies

Construction-related casualties

June 2004 – Sudhir Kumar Pundir, an IRCON Engineer and his brother Sanjay were kidnapped and murdered by terrorists in the valley.[39]

June 2005 – Altaf Hussain, A laborer working in a Tunnel at Tathyar (HCC) was killed by a collapse. Two others were injured.

16 May 2007 – Fancy Akther 09, daughter of Mushtaq Ahmad Wagay and Khushboo Akther 07, daughter of Mohammad Ayub Wani. Drowned in a ditch constructed by Railway Company.

14 Feb 2008 – A Nepali labourer Tika Ram Balwari son of Tuya Narayan was killed after a boulder hit him in at Uri Varmul, presumably on the Kashmir rail project for HCC.

18 Apr 2008 – Six labourers of a private company, engaged with the Katra-Qazigund railway line project, were killed and two others received injuries when a tipper carrying them rolled down into a deep gorge in Lower Juda Morh near Kouri in Reasi district late at night. Besides Tara Chand, others have been identified as Resham Singh and Shambhu Ram, both residents of Pattian in Reasi, Dhani Ram, Sandeep Lal and Vishno, residents of Nepal.[40]

27 Mar 2011 – Two workers, Abdul Rahman (34) and Jumma Baksh (24), were killed at an under-construction railway bridge over the Chenab in Reasi district as a basket attached to a crane carrying them unhooked and fell from a height of more than 100 metres.[41]

Project updates

Dec 2010 – Railways complete construction of crucial tunnel in Sangaldam between the Katra-Qazigund[42]

Feb 2011 – It was reported by an Indian news channel that there was a consensus among the top railway officials of the country that the present rail alignment of the project was not ideal.[43]

Oct 2011 – Boring of the Banihal-Qazigund railway tunnel, Pir Panjal Railway Tunnel, the 11.215 km (7-mile) long railway tunnel completed.

May 2012 – About eight years after the contract for design and built of world's tallest railway bridge was awarded to AFCONS Infrastructure Ltd, the excavation for foundation of the 1315 metre long bridge across river Chenab on Katra-Banihal Section of the prestigious Udhampur-Baramulla railway project has begun in Reasi district while as Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) has finalized the blast load parameters for the superstructure of the bridge.[44]

Nov 2012 – The construction of all tunnels between Udhampur and Katra, including the T1 Tunnel which had seepage problem, was completed earlier this month.[45] Katra railway station to be commissioned by March 2013[46]

28 Dec 2012 – Trial runs on the tracks in Banihal-Qazigund railway tunnel conducted.[47]

26 June 2013 — Pir Panjal railway tunnel between Banihal railway station and Qazigund railway station is inaugurated.

9 Dec 2013 – Railways conduct trial run of new Udhampur-Katra line.[48]

4 July 2014 - Prime Minister Narendra Modi flags off Katra to Delhi via Udhampur train.

Other railway lines in State of Jammu and Kashmir

Three other lines in the State are approved or under construction.

Bilaspur-Mandi-Leh railway line

The Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh asked the railway minister to construct a railway line from Bilaspur to Leh through Mandi and Manali. This would increase tourism and security in Himachal Pradesh and Ladakh by making transportation into the region faster.[49][50]

Following an examination of the feasibility report for the proposed Bilaspur-Mandi-Leh Railway line, the railway ministry forwarded the recommendation to the Planning Commission of India for its approval[51] but the project had not been approved until 2013 and may not be approved as Indian Railways is very short of funds.

Jammu-Poonch railway

Main article: Jammu-Poonch railway

The Jammu-Poonch railway is a proposed railway from Jammu Tawi station via the town of Akhnoor to Poonch. The line was designated a national project on 22 March 2012.[52] The line was excluded from the railway budget.[53]

Srinagar-Kargil-Leh railway

The Srinagar Kargil Leh railway is a proposed railway line from Srinagar station via the town of Kargil to Leh. The line was designated a national project on 26 February 2013

The railway minister of India, Pawan Kumar Bansal announced that the survey of Srinagar Kargil Leh railway taken in the year 2013-14.

Baramulla-Kupwara railway

Minister of state in the ministry of railways K. H Muniyappa, to a question asked by Sharifud-Din Shariq during Lok Sabha session November - December 2009 replied that survey for Baramulla-Kupwara new line has already been conducted.[54] Work on this section hasn't been started yet. The line was excluded from the railway budget.[53]

Anantnag-Pahalgam railway

According to the minister of State for Railways, Jaya Surya Prakash Reddy, the Anantnag-Pahalgam new rail line, is under survey and the target date of completion has not been fixed.[53]

Trains Time Table (Baramulla-Banihal)

Trains (Badgam-Banihal)

04611/04612 Badgam Banihal DEMU Passenger 74631/74632 Badgam Banihal DEMU Passenger 74633/74634 Badgam Banihal DEMU Passenger

Trains (Srinagar-Banihal)

74639/74640 Srinagar Banihal Fast DEMU Passenger

Trains (Baramulla-Budgam)

74621/74622 Baramulla Budgam DEMU Passenger 74623/74624 Baramulla Budgam DEMU Passenger

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Kashmir Railway". Railway Technology.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Harish Kunwar. "Train-Link for J & K Prosperity". Press Release, Press Information Bureau, Government of India, dated 2008-10-16. Retrieved 25 November 2008.
  3. ↑ "Kashmir Rail Link to be Completed by 2020. Will Have World's Highest Railway Bridge". NDTV.com. 4 July 2015.
  4. ↑ "Kashmir rail link project to be completed by 2020: Railway officials". The Times of India.
  5. ↑ Arun Sharma (10 October 1998). "Destination nowhere". Indian Express. Retrieved 14 August 2008.
  6. 1 2 Harsh Bhal (13 April 2005). "A landmark development: Jammu-Udhampur rail line". Press Release, Press Information Bureau, Government of India. Retrieved 13 August 2008.
  7. ↑ S.P. Sharma & Tripti Nath. "Manmohan flags off first Udhampur-Jammu train". Online Edition of The Tribune, dated 2005-04-14. Retrieved 13 August 2008.
  8. ↑ Raghvendra Rao. "No full stops in this train journey". Online edition of The Indian Express, dated 2008-08-07. Retrieved 10 August 2008.
  9. ↑ Manoj Mitta (18 September 2008). "With Chenab project scrapped, Rs 450 cr may go waste". Online edition of The Times of India, dated 2008-09-18. Retrieved 18 September 2008.
  10. ↑ Manoj Mitta (26 October 2008). "Course correction saves Kashmir train". Online edition of The Times of India, dated 2008-10-26. Retrieved 15 December 2008.
  11. ↑ Manoj Mitta (12 September 2008). "India drops plans for world's highest bridge". Online edition of The Times of India, dated 2008-09-12. Retrieved 23 September 2008.
  12. ↑ "Manmohan flags off first train in Kashmir Valley". Online edition of The Hindu, dated 2008-10-12 (Chennai, India). 12 October 2008. Retrieved 12 October 2008.
  13. ↑ "Prime Minister flags off Kashmir Valley's dream train". India Today. 11 October 2008.
  14. ↑ "Valley train reaches Baramulla".
  15. ↑ PTI (14 February 2009). "Train between Baramulla, Anantnag to be flagged off today". Online edition of The Hindu, dated 2009-02-14 (Chennai, India).
  16. ↑ Amba Batra Bakshi. "Bogey Rolls Out". Online edition of Outlook India, dated 2009-06-08. Retrieved 1 June 2009.
  17. 1 2 Raghvendra Rao. "Rly crosses the Chenab ‘bridge’, to resume work". Online edition of Indian Express, dated 2009-06-23. Retrieved 23 June 2009.
  18. 1 2 "Prime Minister dedicates Anantnag-Quazigund rail line in Kashmir to nation". Press Release, Press Information Bureau, Government of India. 28 October 2009. Retrieved 2 December 2009.
  19. 1 2 "jk-rail-line-to-be-operational-by-2017". The Times of India. 25 February 2011.
  20. ↑ "Inauguration of Udhampur-Katra rail line delayed by a year".
  21. ↑ "Katra to be linked by rail line by May next year". Online edition of the Times of India, dated 2008-01-12. 12 January 2008. Retrieved 26 November 2008.
  22. ↑ Jupinderjit Singh (4 August 2009). "Work on Udhampur-Katra rail project to begin in Sept". The Tribune. Retrieved 12 December 2009.
  23. 1 2 "J&K: Trains to go up to Katra from February - The Times of India". The Times of India.
  24. ↑ "Indian railways to chug into Kashmir by 2017".
  25. ↑ "Connecting Kashmir Valley To India Via India's Longest Rail Tunnel".
  26. ↑ Suryamurthy, R. (30 May 2011). "Rail sees Valley link by end 2012". The Telegraph (Calcutta, India).
  27. 1 2 "Welcome to Northern Railway Construction Organization (USBRL Project), INDIA".
  28. ↑ Press Trust of India (25 November 2014). "PAC blames Railways for Rs 3,258 cr loss in Kashmir project".
  29. ↑ "Kashmir's missing link". The Times of India.
  30. ↑ Press Trust of India (12 November 2014). "Katra-Banihal rail link: HC directs Centre to form committee".
  31. ↑ "PM, Sonia flag off train connecting Banihal in Jammu and Qazigund in Kashmir - The Times of India". The Times of India.
  32. ↑ "Indian Railways makes history, runs train through Asia's second longest tunnel".
  33. ↑ http://usbrl.org/curr-pcdo-jk.pdf
  34. ↑ "Salient Design Features of the Chenab and Anji Khad bridges" (PDF). Official webpage of the Konkan Railway Corporation Limited. Retrieved 14 August 2008.
  35. ↑ "History and hope ride on Kashmir's hi-tech train". Online edition of the Economic Times, dated 2008-10-11. 11 October 2008. Retrieved 11 December 2008.
  36. ↑ Arun Joshi. "At Trouble Junction". Online edition of the Hindustan Times, dated 2008-06-10. Retrieved 25 November 2008.
  37. ↑ "UDHAMPUR-SRINAGAR-BARAMULLA NEW B.G. RAILWAY LINE PROJECT:PIR PANJAR TUNNEL (ZONE VA and VB)". Official webpage of HCC. Archived from the original on 26 October 2007. Retrieved 2 December 2008.
  38. ↑ "Bridges, Flyovers and Viaducts". Official webpage of AFCONS. Archived from the original on 8 July 2008. Retrieved 23 September 2008.
  39. ↑ "Bodies of Pundirs taken to Sarsawa". Online edition of The Tribune, dated 2004-06-27. Retrieved 13 August 2008.
  40. ↑ "Six labourers killed, 2 hurt in Reasi mishap". Online edition of The Tribune, dated 2008-04-18. Retrieved 16 May 2011.
  41. ↑ "2 killed at rail project site". Online edition of The Tribune, dated 2011-03-27. Retrieved 13 August 2011.
  42. ↑ "Railways complete construction of crucial tunnel in Kashmir". Indian Express (New Delhi, India). 4 December 2010.
  43. ↑ "Kashmir rail link project in a mess?". http://www.ibnlive.com/videos/india/kashmir-rail-link-ap-mishra-phono-360026.html. External link in |work= (help)
  44. ↑ http://pugodesk.winwinhosting.net/dailyexcelsior/excavation-for-foundation-of-worlds-tallest-rly-bridge-begins/
  45. ↑ http://www.tribuneindia.com/2012/20121125/j&k.htm#5
  46. ↑ Press Trust of India (27 November 2012). "Katra railway station to be commissioned by March".
  47. ↑ http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/Srinagar/Country-s-longest-rail-tunnel-opens-to-trial-in-Valley/Article1-981770.aspx
  48. ↑ "Railways conduct trial run of Udhampur-Katra train".
  49. ↑ http://nvonews.com/2009/09/19/himachal-railways-awards-bhanupali-bilaspur-railway-line-project/
  50. ↑ http://www.visitladakh.com/news/142-rail-link-to-leh-centre-seeks-plan-panel-nod.html
  51. ↑ "‘Manali-Leh railway line project report with Planning Commission’". Himvani News.
  52. ↑ http://www.greaterkashmir.com/news/2012/Mar/23/jammu-poonch-rail-link-to-be-taken-up-as-national-project-goi-79.asp
  53. 1 2 3 http://www.greaterkashmir.com/news/2013/Dec/13/goi-shelves-vital-railway-projects-in-jk-36.asp
  54. ↑ "Questions asked by Mr. Sharifud-Din Shariq during Lok Sabha session November - December 2009".

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