JK News Today
Jammu, May 15 In his first press conference in Delhi on Monday, General Manager Northern Railway Shobhan Chaudhuri , confirmed that Kashmir to Kanyakumari rail project , which will connect the landlocked to the rest of the country, is scheduled to be completed in February next year.
This is the best news that Kashmir wanted to hear as at the moment it is a tale of disruptions in road connectivity. Its best hope is round the year rail connectivity. Its hopes rest on the ongoing tunneling work, which may take another eight to nine months.
Shobhan Chaudhuri had taken over as GM Northern Railway last month- April 2023.
Chaudhuri presented the achievements of NR in the last financial year. He also shared the future plans of NR in the coming year in terms of Safety, Punctuality, Increasing the share of Goods transportation by Railways and creation of Infrastructure. He also emphasized on Energy efficiency, shifting from Diesel to Electric system in train operations and concern for environment which includes harnessing Solar energy and water recycling and rain water harvesting.
Talking on the status of USBRL project to connect Kashmir to Kanyakumari, he said that most of the work on the project is complete except two tunneling work of 200m in two tunnels. The project is destined for completion in Feb 2024 as announced by Minister of Railways on his visit to Chenab Bridge.
On increasing the speed of trains the GM said that portions of track on which the trains are to be operated at high speed will be provided with boundary wall to prevent crossing of tracks by cattle and humans. Manned level crossings are being replaced with ROBs/ RUBs to facilitate smooth movement of rail and road traffic. Railways is also going to run a hydrogen train in the heritage Kalka-Shimla section. This will reduce pollution in the fragile Himalayan ecosystem.
Calling upon the media persons he asked them to help popularize Railways as the preferred mode off goods transportation. He said it is least polluting, can carry goods in bulk, safest mode of transportation with assured and timely delivery.
