Two of the three zones into which the Jammu-Baramulla railway line has been distributed by the Railway Ministry have been completed and are functional. These are Jammu-Udhampur-Katra and Banihal -Baramulla zones. The third 111 km long zone viz. Katra – Banihal is under completion. Eyebrows have been raised on long delay in the completion of this sector. A Parliamentary Panel also visited the site last year and in its report expressed its unhappiness over the long delay in the completion of this project.
On enquiry from the Deputy Chief Engineer of this segment of the railway, no satisfactory answer could be elicited about the time line by which this segment would be completed and the direct link between Jammu and Baramulla would become functional. Amusingly, even the Railway Ministry has not said anything categorical about when the project would be completed. We understand the concern of the people. We also know very well how much eager the State and the Central Governments are about this link-up being made functional as early as possible.
Given this situation, we should be clear in our mind that at no level and no stage slackness or lethargy is allowed to slow down the speed of work on the line. That has to be very clear. The point is that the stretch of 111 kilometers through which the line has to pass is comprised of most rugged and tortuous young Himalayan mountain ranges with extraordinarily difficult geographical and topographical appearance. There are many bridges to be built including Asia’s highest bridge over Chenab River. Numerous tunnels have to be dug and all this asks for highest quality of engineering skills. The railway line that is being laid is of crucial strategic importance for the security of the northern border of India. Neither the Government of India, nor the Railway Ministry and the State Government can take chance on even the minutest issue related to the engineering aspect of laying the line.
Notwithstanding the fact that engineers and staff engaged for completion of Katra-Banihal section are performing their task under harshest possible circumstances but that cannot be a justifiable ground for delaying the project. The excuse of terrain has already been taken a number of times and the same has only resulted into delay in completion of this vital section. This excuse was also found untenable by a Parliamentary Panel, which submitted its report to the Parliament early last year.
The panel had observed: “No doubt this section is passing through rugged and hostile terrain and the same is being projected as one of the reasons behind slow progress but this cannot be a tenable reason for the project to remain incomplete especially when entire project has already suffered very prolonged delay”. In order to ensure that this vital section is completed without any further delay, the Parliamentary Panel had stressed that Railway Board shall monitor the progress on monthly basis so as to meet the expectations of the nation in terms of providing the citizens within the Valley and outside Kashmir a faster, cheaper, reliable and comfortable mode of transportation and to bring about socio-economic development of Jammu and Kashmir.
Had the recommendations of the Parliamentary Panel been adhered strictly, the Railway Minister could have been in a position to specify the timeline for completion of this project. But this has not happened and the same is a matter of serious concern.
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