In order to speed up rail connectivity in Jammu and Kashmir, Lt Governor Sinha has asked railway authorities to submit a detailed project report to the UT administration without any delay

The work of 161 kilometres of the 272 kilometres long Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla rail line is already complete, authorities told Manoj Sinha, Lt Governor of Jammu and Kashmir. An ANI report carried by Business Standard said that the 27,949 crore rupees project will construct the world's highest rail bridge with a height of 359 meters.

The report said that Sinha was told about the development in a meeting held on August 22 to review the work on the railway line. The Lt Governor told the authorities to complete the remaining part from Katra to Banihal by August 15, 2022, the report said.

The project will see many firsts for India and for the world, the authorities told him. The project will see the construction of the world's highest railway bridge with a height of 359 metres is coming up on river Chenab. The project will also see India’s first cable-stayed railway bridge on Anji Nallah in Reasi district, the report said.

According to the report, the Lt Governor directed the railway authorities to extend the rail link to areas like Rajouri, Poonch and Kupwara. The Railways officials briefed him about the completion of preliminary survey for 223-km long Jammu-Poonch rail link at an estimated cost of Rs 22,768 crores and submitted in 2017 and for for 39-km long Baramulla-Kupwara rail link with an estimated cost of Rs 3,843 crores, the survey has been completed and submitted to the Railway Board in July 2020.

Lt Governor Sinha asked the authorities to submit a detailed project report to the authorities as soon as possible for the early allocation of the funds. Apart from that, Sinha also asked the railway authorities to incorporate Vista Dome coaches in their projects to attract more tourists.

On the intervention of Lt Governor, the Railways agreed to run local train service between Kathua and Udhampur to benefit local commuters. The local train service will be started once the coronavirus pandemic subsides.

At the meeting, discussion was also held on running of local train service between Kathua and Udhampur. The Railways has agreed to construct a rail overbridge at its own cost near Madhopur, to decongest traffic between Pathankot and Lakhanpur.

Launching of a single-ticket travel facility to connect Kashmir to Kanyakumari was also discussed during the meeting. Sinha assured full support to the executing agencies for the timely completion of the project.