The Commissioner of Railways Safety (CRS) conducted the second round of statutory inspection on Wednesday (January 3) for the recently completed 14.869 km track between Banihal and Khari along the ambitious Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project.
The Khari railway station, situated in Jammu and Kashmir’s Ramban district, falls between Banihal and Katra on the remaining 111-km stretch of the USBRL project, set to connect Kashmir with the rest of the country by train in the coming months.
Trial runs on Banihal-Khari Section
On December 6 last year, Northern Railways successfully conducted the first trial run of an electric train from Banihal to Khari, bringing joy to the local population in the remote picturesque area.
The second round of statutory inspection by CRS Dinesh Chand Deshwal for the Banihal-Khari track was conducted, raising hopes for the commissioning of this section to link Khari with the Kashmir valley by train.
During the inspection, the chief administrative officer of the USBRL, construction officers, and other concerned officials accompanied CRS Deshwal. The inspection included a trolley inspection from Banihal to Khari and a return journey from Khari to Banihal by special train.
The train schedule will be released after the submission of the CRS report, and the track between Banihal and Khari, passing mostly through tunnels with four minor and major bridges, is a crucial section.
‘Infrastructure ready for commissioning’
Deshwal affirmed that the infrastructure is ready for commissioning, and the inspection is essential before extending the train service to Khari. He emphasised the completion of government guidelines for testing and commissioning to ensure passenger safety.
Out of the total 272 km USBRL project, the first phase of 118-km Qazigund-Baramulla section was commissioned in October 2009, followed by the 18-km Banihal-Qazigund in June 2013 and 25-km Udhampur-Katra in July 2014.
The USBRL project, initiated in 1997, represents one of the most challenging railway infrastructure projects post-independence, facing multiple delays and cost escalations.