Qazigund-Srinagar-Budgam doubling (118 km); Baramulla-Uri new railway line (40 km)
STATE TIMES NEWS
NEW DELHI: In a major push to strengthen rail connectivity in Jammu and Kashmir’s border regions, the Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) for Qazigund-Srinagar-Budgam doubling (118 km) and the Baramulla-Uri new railway line (40 km) have been prepared, the Government informed Parliament on Thursday.
Providing details in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha, Union Minister for Railways, Information & Broadcasting, and Electronics & Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw said these projects aim to further enhance rail infrastructure and connectivity in strategically important areas. He clarified that after DPR preparation, project sanctioning requires consultations with multiple stakeholders, including the State Government, along with statutory approvals such as appraisal by NITI Aayog and the Ministry of Finance. As the process is continuous and dynamic, specific timelines cannot be fixed.
The Minister also informed that a survey for a Sopore-Kupwara (34 km) new line had earlier been sanctioned and its DPR prepared to extend rail connectivity beyond the Srinagar-Baramulla section. However, the project was subsequently dropped after being found technically and economically infeasible.
Highlighting the transformative impact of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project, Vaishnaw said the 272-km-long rail corridor has recently been commissioned and connects the districts of Udhampur, Reasi, Ramban, Srinagar, Anantnag, Pulwama, Budgam, and Baramulla. The project has emerged as a catalyst for socio-economic upliftment in the region.
A key contribution of the USBRL project has been employment generation, with more than 5 crore man-days of work created during its execution. Additionally, over 215 km of approach roads have been constructed, including tunnels and 320 small bridges, significantly improving local connectivity and access to remote habitations.
The Minister noted that the availability of all-weather, reliable, and comfortable rail connectivity between the Kashmir Valley and the rest of the Indian Railways network is expected to provide a major boost to tourism, trade, and overall economic activity.
The Government reiterated its commitment to strengthening infrastructure in Jammu and Kashmir, particularly in border and remote regions, to support inclusive growth, national integration, and long-term regional development.