+
 Railways connects longest tunnel T-49 on Katra-Banihal section
ROADS & HIGHWAYS

Railways connects longest tunnel T-49 on Katra-Banihal section

The Indian Railways longest tunnel, T-49, between Sumber and Arpinchala station of Katra-Banihal section of Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) has been connected successfully.

Out of 272 km length of the USBRL project, 161 km length is already operationalised. The railways revealed that the work on the 111 km intervening stretch between Katra Banihal is under construction at a rapid pace.

T-49 is a tunnel 12.758 km long, and it would be the longest tunnel of Indian Railways, surpassing the Peer Panjal Tunnel of 11.2 km in length built by USBRL on the Banihal-Qazigund section.

The tunnel T-49's south portal (SP) is located in the Sumber Village, 45 km away from the District H.Q. Ramban of Jammu and Kashmir, with an altitude of 1400 meters.

Meanwhile, the North Portal (NP) of the tunnel is located near Arpinchala village Tehsil Khari, in District Ramban, at an altitude of about 1600 meters.

T-49 includes two tubes, the first is the main tunnel, and the other escapes the tunnel. The construction of the tunnel is done by using the New Austrian Tunneling Method (NATM), an advanced technique of drill and blast method. The Cross-section shape of the tunnel is modified horseshoe-shaped.

To facilitate construction, three adits- Urnihal Adit, Hingni Adit and Kundan Adit have been constructed. The tunnel has a ruling gradient of one in 80 and a designed speed of 100 kmph.

According to the International standards, the Escape Tunnel being constructed parallel to the Main Tunnel is linked to the cross passages at an interval of 375m to enable rescue and restoration work.

The NR commissioned construction work to IRCON International Ltd, which assigned work in two packages to HCC and AFCONS Infrastructure Limited.

HCC is managing 5.1 km length work from South Portal, and AFCONS is executing 7.658 km length work from North Portal.

The railways revealed that they encountered many challenges like highly jointed rock mass, shear zone, rock problems, and much more.The experienced team of engineers of Northern Railway, IRCON, and the executing agencies HCC and AFCONS successfully negotiated every difficulty and made it possible to accomplish this project.

During the tunnel construction, the local population was also employed by the agencies for several works, which also helped the overall socio-economic landscape.

Image Source

Also read: MEIL makes major breakthrough in Zojila La tunnel project

The Indian Railways longest tunnel, T-49, between Sumber and Arpinchala station of Katra-Banihal section of Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) has been connected successfully. Out of 272 km length of the USBRL project, 161 km length is already operationalised. The railways revealed that the work on the 111 km intervening stretch between Katra Banihal is under construction at a rapid pace. T-49 is a tunnel 12.758 km long, and it would be the longest tunnel of Indian Railways, surpassing the Peer Panjal Tunnel of 11.2 km in length built by USBRL on the Banihal-Qazigund section. The tunnel T-49's south portal (SP) is located in the Sumber Village, 45 km away from the District H.Q. Ramban of Jammu and Kashmir, with an altitude of 1400 meters. Meanwhile, the North Portal (NP) of the tunnel is located near Arpinchala village Tehsil Khari, in District Ramban, at an altitude of about 1600 meters. T-49 includes two tubes, the first is the main tunnel, and the other escapes the tunnel. The construction of the tunnel is done by using the New Austrian Tunneling Method (NATM), an advanced technique of drill and blast method. The Cross-section shape of the tunnel is modified horseshoe-shaped. To facilitate construction, three adits- Urnihal Adit, Hingni Adit and Kundan Adit have been constructed. The tunnel has a ruling gradient of one in 80 and a designed speed of 100 kmph. According to the International standards, the Escape Tunnel being constructed parallel to the Main Tunnel is linked to the cross passages at an interval of 375m to enable rescue and restoration work. The NR commissioned construction work to IRCON International Ltd, which assigned work in two packages to HCC and AFCONS Infrastructure Limited. HCC is managing 5.1 km length work from South Portal, and AFCONS is executing 7.658 km length work from North Portal. The railways revealed that they encountered many challenges like highly jointed rock mass, shear zone, rock problems, and much more.The experienced team of engineers of Northern Railway, IRCON, and the executing agencies HCC and AFCONS successfully negotiated every difficulty and made it possible to accomplish this project. During the tunnel construction, the local population was also employed by the agencies for several works, which also helped the overall socio-economic landscape. Image Source Also read: MEIL makes major breakthrough in Zojila La tunnel project

Next Story
Resources

Pankaja Munde Lauds CREDAI-MCHI for Tree Plantation in Beed

CREDAI-MCHI has received a second letter of appreciation from Smt. Pankaja Gopinath Munde, Maharashtra’s Minister of Environment & Climate Change, for planting 2,000 tree saplings at Bhagvan Bhaktigad, Sawargaon Ghat in Patoda, Beed. The initiative aligns with the state’s Green Maharashtra Mission and Van Mahotsav drive. In her letter, the Minister commended CREDAI-MCHI’s environmental contribution as a step towards long-term ecological balance and climate resilience. Domnic Romell, President, CREDAI-MCHI, said: “We are deeply honoured to receive this recognition... The p..

Next Story
Technology

Rodic Launches Advisory Arm for Data-Driven Governance Reform

Rodic Consultants has announced the launch of Rodic Advisory & Technology, a strategic new vertical aimed at strengthening data-led governance, institutional reform, and infrastructure strategy. The move marks a key milestone in the company’s evolution from engineering consultancy to governance enabler. Positioned as a dedicated public sector think tank, the vertical will partner with government bodies, multilateral institutions, and public agencies to deliver advisory services rooted in real-time operational data, engineering intelligence, and implementation expertise. Service..

Next Story
Infrastructure Urban

IndoSpace Launches Largest Industrial Park in Pune Region

IndoSpace, India’s leading supply chain infrastructure platform, has launched IndoSpace Chakan V, its largest industrial and logistics park in the country. Spread across 188 acres in MIDC Chakan near Pune, the project involves an investment of USD 120 million and marks the company’s eighth park in the region, bringing IndoSpace’s Pune footprint to 525 acres. Strategically located along major highways—including the Mumbai-Pune Expressway, Pune-Nashik Highway, and Bengaluru-Mumbai Industrial Corridor—the park ensures seamless connectivity to key industrial hubs and ports across we..

Advertisement

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Get daily newsletters around different themes from Construction world.

STAY CONNECTED

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Talk to us?