PM Modi will today launch the first electric train in the Valley and reveal significant rail development projects in J&K
On February 20, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will dedicate, inaugurate, and lay the foundation stone for many development projects, marking a major step towards strengthening infrastructure in Jammu and Kashmir. One of the main attractions is that PM Modi will dedicate to the country the freshly electrified 185.66 km Baramulla-Sringar-Banihal-Sangaldan rail segment, valued at Rs 470.23 cr, and the new 48 km rail line between Banihal-Khari-Sumber-Sangaldan, which would cost Rs 15,863 crore.
The first electric train in the valley and the rail service between Sangaldan and Srinagar’s Baramulla station will also be inaugurated by the prime minister.
Ballast Less Track (BLT) was used in the commissioning of the Banihal-Khari-Sumber-Sangaldan segment, which makes it notable for providing a smoother journey for passengers. This section also has the T-50, India’s longest transportation tunnel, which runs 12.77 km between Khari and Sumber. It is anticipated that these train projects would boost regional economic growth, encourage environmental sustainability, and improve connectivity.
A portion of the ambitious 272-km Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project, which has a project cost of Rs 41,119 cr, will be commissioned on Tuesday. The project’s goal is to establish an all-weather, comfortable, and financially viable transportation network through the difficult Pir Panjal Ranges. To date, 161 km of the project have been completed.
It is important to remember that the Baramulla-Sringar-Banihal-Sangaldan section’s electrification is a step toward the valley’s usage of renewable energy. Currently, 138 km of the Baramulla-Banihal route is serviced by trains powered by diesel. Commuters may now use the train from Baramulla to Sangaldan, which covers 20 stops along the way, as of the new line’s opening.
This signals a historic change in the area toward trains powered by clean fuel, enhancing the sustainability and effectiveness of the transportation system.
