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The Commissioner for Railway Safety (CRS) has cleared the newly laid Katra-Reasi section of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project in Jammu and Kashmir, paving the way for the commencement of regular train services between Jammu and Srinagar. Trains will operate at a maximum speed of 85 kmph on normal tracks and 15 kmph on station loop lines. For security reasons, trains will only operate during daylight hours, with separate boarding procedures at Katra for Srinagar-bound passengers, including stricter security checks. Non-stop trains from cities like Delhi to Srinagar will not be available initially, according to railway sources. The CRS has outlined certain conditions that must be met before regular operations can begin. However, officials have assured that all safety norms will be fully adhered to. “Safety remains our top priority, and we’ve never rushed the process,” said a railway official. Although the official date for the inaugural run has not been confirmed, sources suggest it could take place this month, potentially coinciding with Parakram Diwas on January 23, the birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. The railways has prepared an eight-coach Jammu-Kashmir Vande Bharat train for the debut run, designed to operate in extreme cold temperatures as low as -20°C. In its report, the CRS also emphasized the need for careful monitoring of the Anji cable-stayed bridge, recommending the installation of instrumentation to track any unusual stress fluctuations, permanent deformation, or changes in stiffness. The construction of the first three phases of the USBRL project was completed by 2014, with trains already running between Baramulla and Banihal in the Kashmir Valley, and between Jammu, Udhampur, and Katra in the Jammu region. The 111-km Banihal-Katra section, the most challenging due to its geological features, was the last to be completed. The 48-km Banihal-Sangaldan section was commissioned in February 2024, and the 46-km Sangaldan-Reasi section received CRS authorisation in July 2024. The Katra-Reasi stretch is the final link in the ambitious project. Dinesh Chand Deshwal, CRS Northern Circle, who conducted the investigation for the Katra-Reasi section, praised the project’s infrastructure, noting that no issues were found. “This is an outstanding project, and the dream of a train to Kashmir will soon be a reality,” he said. |
