Minister for Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw announced that the final safety inspection of the newly constructed 111-kilometre-long Banihal-Katra section, connecting Jammu to the Kashmir Valley, begins on Thursday.
In a post on X, Ashwini wrote, “Final stage CRS safety inspection of the USBRL Project commences for Katra-Banihal section.”
According to an official press release from the Railway Ministry, Jammu and Srinagar will be closer than ever, with travel reduced to just three hours and ten minutes.
The modernisation of Jammu station, featuring eight platforms and state-of-the-art amenities, is set to offer a world-class travel experience.
An 8-coach Jammu Srinagar Vande Bharat Express between Katra and Srinagar will begin soon. This transformation marks the end of a long wait for train connectivity between the Kashmir Valley and Jammu.
The Banihal-Katra section has been a significant engineering feat, with 97 kilometres of tunnel and 7 kilometres covered by four main bridges.
The toughest challenge was constructing the world’s highest arch bridge (359 m) over the Chenab River, achieved using the rock bolting method, involving 30,000 tonnes of steel.
To ensure safety, authorities have installed cameras every 50 metres along the route, connected to a state-of-the-art central control room.
Additionally, the Jammu Srinagar Vande Bharat train is specially designed with anti-freezing features and is equipped with a snow removal train to maintain all-weather connectivity.
This route’s seismic safety measures include anti-vibration seismic devices, given the region’s vulnerability to earthquakes.
The Kashmir Vande Bharat Express is tailored for extreme cold conditions, capable of operating smoothly even at -20 degrees Celsius.
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