Overview
- Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw told the Rajya Sabha that surveys are complete and a Detailed Project Report is ready for the Baramulla–Uri new line (46 km) and the Banihal–Baramulla doubling (118 km).
- The projects have not been sanctioned, with timelines contingent on consultations with state authorities and formal appraisals by central agencies.
- The move follows commissioning of the 272-km Udhampur–Srinagar–Baramulla Rail Link earlier this year, which established direct rail connectivity to the Kashmir Valley.
- Operations on the route now include Vande Bharat services between Katra and Srinagar and multiple DEMU/MEMU pairs serving the Qazigund–Srinagar and Srinagar–Baramulla sections.
- USBRL involved major engineering works including the Chenab Bridge—1,315 m long with a 467 m arch span and 359 m height—and long tunnels, with the project reported at a cost of about Rs 43,780 crore.