The Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS) has authorised the opening of the newly constructed 17 km long Katra-Reasi rail track for public carriage of goods and passenger traffic.
The inspection by the CRS, the railway safety audit body under the Ministry of Civil Aviation, is the final check before train operations can commence.
In a seven-page authorisation letter, CRS Dinesh Chand Deshwal gave green signal for the opening of the newly constructed broad-gauge line between Katra and Reasi stations for public carriage of goods and passenger traffic
This marks the completion of the entire Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla new broad-gauge rail link project in the Firozpur division of Northern railways.
The CRS had inspected the newly constructed track in January this year by motor trolley, and on foot that was followed by a speed trial on the entire section from Katra to Banihal.
The speed trial was conducted in both up and down directions, from Katra to Banihal and vice-versa, using an inspection special fitted with OMS equipment and hauled by electric locomotive.
The speed during the trial was generally 110 km/h, with no peaks above 0.15g observed.
"Based on completion documents and safety certificates, certifying satisfactory completion of works, and based on sample checks conducted during my inspection, I am of the opinion that the provisions for the opening of public carriage of goods and passenger traffic have been met,” the CRS said in its report.
The CRS has authorised the regular opening of the section for public carriage of passengers and freight traffic at a maximum permissible speed of 85 km/h on the main line and 15 km/h on turnouts, with the authorisation subject to compliance with various conditions, guidelines, and stipulations.
The final CRS report has cleared the path to run a train between Jammu and Srinagar soon,” said an official.
Preparations are underway to run Vande Bharat, Diesel Electric Multiple Unit (DEMU) and Mainline Electric Multiple Unit (MEMU) trains from Jammu to Srinagar.
DEMUs and MEMUs are self-propelled train rakes — that is, they have no separate locomotives — that run on short- and medium-distance routes in India.
The prestigious Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla project was sanctioned in 1994-95. The first three phases were completed by 2014.
Trains have been running between Banihal and Baramulla in the Kashmir valley, and between Jammu, Udhampur and Katra in Jammu region. But the 111-km Katra-Banihal section was the most difficult to construct owing to the geology of the area.
A 48-km section from Banihal to Sangaldan was commissioned in February 2024 and the 46-km Sangaldan-Reasi section received CRS authorisation on July 1.
Katra to Reasi is the final leg that has been constructed, and has now received the CRS approval.
The railway line to Kashmir has 38 tunnels with T-49 - measuring 12.75 km - being the country's longest rail tunnel. The line has 927 bridges. It includes the world's highest railway arch bridge over the Chenab river in the Reasi district, which sits at an elevation of 359 metres.