General Manager Northern Railway briefs Chief Secy about progress
Srinagar: Kashmir would be connected through railway link to Jammu and rest of the country in 2023, said the Manager Northern Railway (NR) Ashutosh Gangal on Thursday.
He said that it is expected the Kashmir valley would be connected to Jammu and the rest of the country during 2023, providing efficient connectivity to Kashmir valley with other parts of the country by rail. “The all-weather and cost-effective connectivity shall be a boon for the economy of J&K”, Gangal said. This he revealed during a meeting with Chief Secretary Dr Arun Kumar here today. Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) construction Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Railway Link (USBRL), A. K. Khandelwal; Principal Chief Security Commissioner (PCSC) NR, A N Mishra, Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) Firozpur, Seema Sharma also accompanied during the meeting. GM Northern Railway briefed the Chief Secretary about the works that have been finished, or nearing completion, works under progress, and the adherence to the set timelines to dedicate the project to the people at the earliest. Chief Secretary was informed about the work on the intervening 111 kms of Katra-Banihal section which is going on in full swing despite challenging and inhospitable terrain. While appreciating the Railways for the work done with respect to connecting the Jammu and Kashmir region with the rest of India, Dr Mehta observed that the railway line will act as a catalyst for the overall development, progress, and prosperity of the region. He said the link will play an important role in rapid industrialization, movement of raw materials, boost trade and tourism, besides providing opportunities for employment generation. Dr Mehta assured all possible support and cooperation from the Union Territory (UT) administration to finish the project within the given timeline. UNI QAB