SRINAGAR:
The rail-link from Banihal to Katra, connecting Kashmir Valley with the rest of the country, would be completed by 2020, railway officials said here today.
“The work on the Banihal to Katra stretch is going on and we are hopeful of completing it by 2020,” General Manager, Northern Railways, A K Puthia told reporters.
Puthia said the 110 km stretch was the most difficult part of the rail-link which connects Baramulla in north Kashmir with Udhampur in Jammu.
“About 85 per cent of the track is made of tunnels. There are 25 tunnels in this stretch, of which around 35 per cent has been completed,” he said.
The general manager said the track would also have the world’s longest and highest railway bridge. “It will be 359 metres high and will have a span of 467 metres. The bridge is expected to be completed by 2017,” he said.
Puthia said the maintenance and services of the railways were affected in the Valley post last year’s floods.
“The movement of our stocks and coaches was affected after the floods. We recently got permission for carrying those items. When the supply improves, the services will improve,” he said. (AGENCIES)
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