Search Indian Maps, Pincodes, Local Info and more...
Kashmir Railway
Conceived with the idea to connect Jammu & Kashmir to all of India, the Kashmir Railway or the Jammu Udhampur Srinagar Baramullah Railway Link is being developed since 1983. When completed it will be 345 kms (214 miles) starting at Jammu, the winter capital of the state and run across the state to the northwest edge to Baramullah through the summer capital Srinagar. This line under development is in the Firozpur division of North Railway Zone and traverses earthquake prone areas through very difficult mountainous terrain and extreme climatic conditions.
The completion date was August 15, 2007 but far from being complete, the final date for completion has now been set to 2017.
There are 4 sections of the Kashmir Railway project:
- Section1: 53 kms. (33 miles) from Jammu to Udhampur, inaugurated in April 2005
- Section2: 25 kms. (16 miles) from Udhampur to Katra. Under processing, scheduled to open in 2013
- Section3: 148 kms. (92 miles) from Katra to Qazigund. Under processing, scheduled to open in 2017
- Section4: 119 kms. (74 miles) from Qazigund to Baramulla, inaugurated in October 2009
History
- First conceived by Maharaja Pratap Singh, the King of Jammu & Kashmir in 1898 to connect Jammu to Srinagar. The British wanted to connect Srinagar with Rawalpindi but the people did not like the idea.
- Another proposal was made in1905 of a narrow gauge rail (electric powered using the mountain streams for hydro-electric power) to take the ancient Mughal Road near Pir Panjal . This was not a very technically sound proposal.
- After independence, Jammu was connected with the Indian Railway network from Pathankot to Jammu. This was planned to be continued to Srinagar but there were other priorities at the time, hence work on the proposed Kashmir Railway did not begin soon after Independence.
- 1983: Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi inaugurated the work on Jammu to Udhampur line with a five year plan to complete the project and a budget of Rs. 50 Crore was set. This schedule was impossible to complete.
- 1994: Another proposal was made for a line between Baramulla and Srinagar of a 'Hanging' Railway connecting Qazigund to Srinagar and further to Baramulla. This was another impractical proposal!
- July 2002: The Indian Government declares the Kashmir Railway to be a National Project. This meant that the entire project would be financed by the Central Government of India. The project was now estimated to cost Rs. 6,000 Crore or USD 1.3 billion. A challenging and impossible target of August 15, 2007 was also set.
- Section 1 : The Jammu- Udhampur line, 55 Kms (34 miles) long, is completed and opened on April 13, 2005.
- 2008: The project is ordered to be cancelled between Katra and Qazigund, as the region is prone to earth quakes. Fresh survey of this area is ordered for manufacture of the Railway with a shorter route.
- October 11, 2008 : A remote portion of the route; 66 Kms (41 miles) between Manzhama and Anantnag is opened
- February 14, 2009 : This route from Manzhama and Anantnag is further connected to Baramulla.
- June 2009 : Work between Katra and Qazigund restarts after the survey of the alignment is approved with small changes to the existing one. Additional tests to find technical viability are still being reviewed specially since the region is earth-quake prone.
- October 28, 2009: The remaining 18 kms. long section from Anantnag to Qazigund is completed and formally opened by the Prime Minister.
Future
There are still technical and other difficulties to be overcome before the remaining work is complete, hopefully by 2017.
The construction of this Railway has been technically very challenging. Problem to overcome is the building of the bridge across the Chenab river as the bridge will be 1,315 meters long (4,314 ft) and will be 359 meters over the river. Another challenge is the bridge across the Anji Khad, that will span 657 meters (2,156 ft) and will be 186 meters (610 ft) over the river. The Bridge on the river Chenab will be the supreme railway bridge in world.
Route
The route has many bridges, viaducts and tunnels – the railway is expected to cross more than 750 bridges and pass through over 100 Kms (62 miles) of tunnels, the longest being 11 Kms (6.8 miles).
This will be broad gauge laid on concrete sleepers with welded rail and with a small radius of 676 meters. The maximum speed that this line can achieve is 100 Kms per hour. Diesel locomotives will be used on this line to begin with but there will be provision for future electrification. To begin with the route will have 30 stations that will be served by 10–12 trains per day. The Kashmir rail will connect with the Indian Railways Railhead at Jammu, and further to Udhampur.
The Trains
Passenger Trains:
- High Power Diesel Multiple units will be used for Passenger trains. There will be 1,400 HP diesel engines that will have a heating system to facilitate a quick start in the winters.
- The coaches will be air-conditioned and will have pneumatic suspension to make the journey more comfortable. They will be aesthetically decorated and have wide windows to view the scenic beauty.
- The coaches will have anti-skid flooring, sliding doorways and heating facilities. The seats will be executive class reclining seats.
- The driver's cabin will have a heating and defogging unit fitted with a wide glass window to give better view. To clear snow from the tracks, a snow-cutting type cattle guard will be attached on the front driver’s end of the Diesel Locomotive.
- Coaches will also have a public information system with display and announcement facilities.
- Physically challenged people will have a special coach with wider doors.
Freight Trains
The rolling stock for freight trains will be taken from the existing national fleet. Freight services carrying all commercial goods and raw materials will run daily in between the Passenger Services
Workshop:
Rolling stock of Passenger Services and Freight Services as well as the Diesel Locomotives will be maintained at the new workshop at Budgam near Srinagar.
Progress
December 2010; Vital tunnel at Sangaldam between Katra-Qazigund is ready.
February 2011: The Indian Press reports that many high-ranking Indian railway officials believe that the present rail alignment of the project was not the very best.
March 2011: More than 95% of the Banihal-Qazigund railway tunnel ( 10.4 Kms out of a total of 11 Kms.) is complete.