New Delhi, Jan Feb 03 (KNO): Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Monday said that passengers traveling from Delhi to Srinagar will have to bridge the trains at Katra Railway Station.
Addressing a news conference here, the Railway Minister, according to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) said, “The decision to bridge the trains has been taken due to temperature variations and atmospheric pressure differences in the mountainous region, necessitating special train designs. The trains that run in plains are different from the ones that traverse through the upper reaches.”
“In mountainous terrain, oxygen needs to be artificially generated inside the train coaches. We have studied similar models in Switzerland. The tickets will remain the same. Passengers will have to board another train which would be standing on the opposite platform of the railway station where the bridging will take place,” Vaishnaw said.
He said that the practice of bridging the trains is followed across the world in the mountainous regions. “The railway system is being developed in line with global standards."
The Minister said, “Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) is an engineering marvel having two major bridges and 90 kilometers of tunnels. “All the necessary tests have been conducted successfully and commercial train services from Jammu to Srinagar will commence soon,” he added.
Referring to the up gradation work at Jammu Railway Station, Vaishnaw said, “To accommodate increased passenger traffic, Jammu Railway Station is being expanded from three to seven platforms. However, until the completion of this expansion, train services to Srinagar will be operated from Katra. Hopefully the upgraded Jammu Railway Station would be thrown open for the public by August-September this year. It would lead to direct train connectivity between Jammu and Srinagar cities.”
J&K gets Rs 844 crore in budget allocation
He said that the government is also exploring new railway projects to improve connectivity to far-flung areas, including a Ladakh-Srinagar rail link. “A total budget allocation of Rs 844 crore has been earmarked for Jammu & Kashmir’s railway projects. Once the new projects are sanctioned the budget allocation will increase. There will be no dearth of funds,” Vaishnaw added.
The Minister emphasized the significant progress made in railway electrification, noting that since 2014, a total of 344 km of railway tracks have been electrified, making Jammu & Kashmir 100% electrified.
Providing financial and developmental insights, the Union Minister stated that since 2014, a total of 135 km of new railway tracks have been constructed in Jammu & Kashmir, improving regional connectivity and accessibility.
He also informed that four major railway stations Budgam, Jammu Tawi, Katra, and Udhampur are being developed as ‘Amrit Stations’ at a total cost of Rs. 292.5 crore, enhancing passenger amenities and station infrastructure.
The budgetary allocation and development projects reaffirm the government’s dedication to modernizing railway infrastructure in Jammu & Kashmir, fostering economic growth, and improving connectivity in the region, Vaishnaw added.
Highlighting the government’s extensive railway development plans, the Minister announced that 50 new Namo Bharat trains, 100 new Amrit Bharat trains, and 200 new Vande Bharat trains are in the pipeline. “Additionally, a budget of Rs 1,14,000 crore has been allocated for railway safety and Rs 2,52,000 crore for overall railway infrastructure.”
The Railway Minister praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, under which 35,000 kilometers of new railway tracks have been laid and 100% electrification of railway lines in Jammu and Kashmir has been achieved.
On the issue of concessions for senior citizens, he clarified that half of the expenses of all the travelers are borne by the Railways. “Passengers across the country travel on subsidized rates,” he added.
The Minister thanked both the Prime Minister and the Finance Minister for their support in the rapid expansion and modernization of the Indian Railways—(KNO)