Excelsior Correspondent
REASI, June 24: Informing that deadline for completion of Katra-Baramulla rail line has been extended and would be completed by 2020, the Union Minister of State for Railway Manoj Sinha today alleged that legal hurdles and PILs were hampering progress of work on this section.
“Due to repeated filing of PILs, progress of work has been affected and this is the reason that target of completing Katra-Baramulla section is now shifted to June 2020,” the Minister said while talking to media persons on the sidelines of a function in connection with laying of foundation stone of Chenab Rail Bridge between Bakkal and Kouri, about 50 kms from Reasi.
The Minister was here for inspection and review of the progress on 111 km long Katra-Banihal section, which has been taken as national project.
Justifying the Railway Ministry’s decision of going ahead with work on the old alignment for the rail line, Manoj Sinha said that alternate alignment proposed by Sridharan Committee and mentioned in the PIL was hypothetical paper alignment without any survey.
“The Approved alignment, on which work has been going on, is based on detailed survey, geo-technical and geo-physical investigation and it is stable, survivable and constructible,” he said.
Further, the Union Minister added, work on present alignment is being supervised by number of experienced and reputed international consultants, approved by the Ministry of Railway.
The Minister reiterated that the project is expected to be completed by 2020 and will have a lifespan of 120 years. “It will contribute to the economic development of the State and help in providing better transportation accessibility within the State and the country,” he added.
Earlier, the Minister laid foundation stone of Chenab Rail Bridge amidst chanting of Mantras by priests and offering of prayers. The 1,315m-long bridge is being built at a height of 359m. Once completed, it will be the tallest rail bridge in the world.
The 345km-long rail line between the Jammu and Baramulla regions will enhance mobility within the State and across India. The railway line will traverse along Jammu-Udhampur-Katra-Quazigund-Baramulla. Construction of the Jammu to Katra section was completed and opened in April 2014. Work is progressing on the Katra to Banihal section.
The project includes construction of several bridges and tunnels along the route and Chenab Bridge is one of them. It will span across the deep Chenab river and provide access to the Kashmir valley from Katra.
The project was suspended in 2008 due to construction challenges. The alignment of the entire JUSBRL project was reviewed to propose solutions for the challenges faced. The review work was submitted to the Railway Board and approved in 2009. The design of the bridge, however, was approved in July 2012.
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