Nishikant Khajuria
JAMMU, Jan 7: As the remaining work on finishing of the doubling of Jammu-Pathankot-Jalandhar Railway line gains momentum, the authorities have set March 2017 as the final deadline for completion of the mega project.
According to the official sources, the block sections between Basantar bridge block Hut and Samba Railway Station and Chhan Arorian to Budhi Railway Station shall be commissioned in the forthcoming financial year as ongoing work on Basantar and Ujh bridges is progressing very fast.
Another important bridge across Beas river between the Beas block Hut to Mirthal has also been taken up and this section is likely to be commissioned in the financial year 2016-17 while in the last block section, Madhopar to Kathua, on which important Ravi bridge falls, the tenders have been invited and job work is likely to be allotted by March this year, sources added.
With the commissioning of block section Madhopur to Kathua, the entire doubling between Jalandhar Cantt to Jammu Tawi shall get completed by March 2017.
The doubling of 211 km long single Railway line between Jalandhar and Jammu Tawi was sanctioned in 1997-98 at a cost of Rs 408 crores at that time and the work was started in 2002. The planned work was carried out in different sections between various Railway Stations (Block sections) as per the availability of funds. In 211 km long section, there are 26 stations in between, 406 minor bridges and 88 major bridges, including bridges across river Beas, Chakki, Ravi, Ujh and Basantar.
Even as the work on 184 kilometers of line in various block section was completed without disturbing the existing train running operations and was commissioned between 2005-06 to 2011-12, legal hurdles and shortage of funds put brakes on the accomplishment of remaining job on doubling, particularly the construction of these major bridges, besides cast escalation.
However, the pace of work on the remaining sections has once again gained momentum with the increased flow of funds and settling of the legal hurdles. As per the latest official status on pending work, the balance sections from Jalandhar Cantt to Suchhi Pind (3.5 km) and from Chakki to Bharoli (2.5 kms) are almost completed and will be commissioned in next 3-4 months while work on Basantar and Ujh bridges is progressing very fast.
365 meters long Basantar bridge is having 12 span of 30.5m steel girders while 625m long Ujh bridge has 27 span of 24.40m long prestressed concrete girders. After completion of these two bridges, the block sections between Basantar bridge block Hut and Samba Railway Station (5.5km) and Chhan Aroraian to Budhi Railway Station (8 km) shall be commissioned in the next financial year.
Work on another important bridge across Beas river, 700m long having 14 spans of 45.7 m steel girders between the stations Beas block Hut to Mirthal (2.5 km), has been taken up and this section is likely to be commissioned in the year 2016-17. Madhopur to Kathua (7.2 km) is the last block section, on which 825 m long Ravi bridge having 17 spans of 45.7m and spans of 18.3m of steel girders falls. The tender for Ravi bridge has been invited and the job work is likely to be allotted in March 2015. The bridge is expected to be completed in the next two years and with the commissioning of this block section, the entire doubling between Jalandhar Cantt to Jammu Tawi shall get completed by March 2017, official sources said.
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