Jahangeer Ganaie
Srinagar, Jan 9: Terming the year 2020 as the “Year of Grit and Victories” for Indian Railways, the Union Ministry of Railways in its annual review report said the much-awaited Udhampur-Baramulla railway line would be completed by December 2022.
In the annual review report, the Union Railway Ministry said that the plan (NRP) 2030 has been developed with a view to develop infrastructure by 2030 to cater to the traffic requirements up to 2050.
“Based on the NRP, a vision 2024 document has been prepared to develop infrastructure by 2024 to enhance the modal share of Railways in freight transportation to more than 40 per cent and to cater to the traffic requirements up to 2030,” the report said.
” Vision 2024 document lists all priority projects with target dates of completion and allocation of resources. Multi tracking of 14,000 km route, electrification of entire Railway network, upgrading the speed potential of important routes to 130 KMPH and 160 KMPH (present speed potential 110 KMPH), completion of important coal connectivity and port connectivity projects have been planned as part of vision 2024,” it said.
The report said Udhampur-Baramulla rail project will be completed by December 2022 besides that all northern state capitals except Shillong to be connected by March 2023.
“Accidents progressively reduced from 107 in 2015-16 to 55 in 2019-20, ( up to December 2020) and 893 railway stations are now provided with improved illumination levels similar to Airport Standards,” report further adds—(KNO)