The T-50, world’s longest rail tunnel in Jammu and Kashmir, now stands as an engineering marvel and was completed in 14 years and has stringent safety protocols.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi yesterday inaugurated the T-50 tunnel, marking a significant milestone in the UdhampurSrinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project.
The PM during a rally in Jammu virtually flagged off two electrified trains simultaneously, one from Srinagar to Sangaldan in the down direction and the other from Sangaldan to Srinagar in the up direction.
The PM also inaugurated the 48.1 km long Banihal-Khari-Sumber-Sangaldan section.
"The longest T-50 tunnel, which is 12.77 km long and known as T-50, falls between the Khari Sumber section," the railway official said.
“The construction of T-50 tunnel commenced in 2010, navigating through formidable geological challenges and logistical complexities. After nearly 14 years of relentless effort and hardwork, the tunnel now stands as an engineering marvel,” he said.
The survey work of the tunnel commenced around 1996.
The official said stringent safety protocols have been implemented within the tunnel, including the construction of an escape tunnel running parallel to T-50.
Every 375 meters, connecting passages facilitate swift evacuation in case of emergencies, ensuring passenger safety remains paramount, he said.
The innovative fire safety measures have been integrated, with water pipes strategically laid along both sides of the tunnel. This proactive approach enables prompt response to potential fire incidents, further enhancing passenger security.
The longest tunnel is part of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Railway Line (USBRL) project.
With the opening of the Banihal-Khari-Sumber-Sangaldan section, the vision of seamlessly connecting Kashmir to Kanyakumari inches closer to reality. The USBRL project, spanning 272 kilometers, holds immense promise for transforming the nation's railway
Out of the total 272 km USBRL project, 209 km has been commissioned in phases. The first phase between the Qazigund-Baramulla section of 118 km was commissioned in October 2009, followed by 18 km Banihal-Qazigund in June 2013, 25 km long Udhampur-Katra in July 2014, and the recent Banihal-Sangaldan section of 48.1 km.
Notably, the world’s highest railway arc bridge over the Chenab River at a height of 359 m (1,178 ft) also comes under the crucial link from the Katra to the Banihal section of USBRL.
“Once the complete USBRL opens in the coming months, passengers will enjoy infrastructural marvels, such as the Chenab bridge, the highest railway bridge in the world, and the Anji bridge, which is the first cable-stayed bridge of the Indian Railways,” Indian Railways official said.