PM Modi to Inaugurate Historic Kashmir Train Service on February 17
RAILWAYS & METRO RAIL

PM Modi to Inaugurate Historic Kashmir Train Service on February 17

In a landmark development, the Kashmir Valley will soon be directly connected to the country's railway network, with the inaugural run of the Katra-Srinagar train service scheduled for February 17. 

Sources told Greater Kashmir that preparations are underway for the historic event, which will be officiated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is expected to flag off the Vande Bharat train from Katra. However, official confirmation is still awaited. 

Railway authorities have been directed to ensure full readiness for the launch, with a directive that no leave will be sanctioned for railway employees in the coming week due to the scale of the inauguration. 

Engineering Marvel: USBRL Project 
The new railway line is part of the ambitious Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project—one of India’s most challenging and technologically advanced railway undertakings. The project boasts several engineering milestones, including: 

  • Anji Khad Bridge – India’s first cable-stayed railway bridge, featuring a 331-metre-high pylon. 
  • Chenab Railway Bridge – The tallest railway bridge in the world, standing at 359 metres above the riverbed and surpassing the height of the Eiffel Tower. 
  • Advanced Tunneling Infrastructure – Over two dozen small and large tunnels that significantly shorten the journey for passengers. 

Vande Bharat: Built for Extreme Conditions 
The Vande Bharat train on this route is specially designed for the region’s extreme climate conditions, with features that set it apart from other Vande Bharat trains across India: 

  • Operates smoothly in temperatures as low as -20°C. 
  • Equipped with advanced heating systems to ensure passenger comfort. 
  • Heated windshields in the driver’s cabin to prevent fogging and ice formation. 
  • Anti-freezing plumbing and bio-toilets, ensuring seamless functionality in freezing conditions. 

In a landmark development, the Kashmir Valley will soon be directly connected to the country's railway network, with the inaugural run of the Katra-Srinagar train service scheduled for February 17. Sources told Greater Kashmir that preparations are underway for the historic event, which will be officiated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is expected to flag off the Vande Bharat train from Katra. However, official confirmation is still awaited. Railway authorities have been directed to ensure full readiness for the launch, with a directive that no leave will be sanctioned for railway employees in the coming week due to the scale of the inauguration. Engineering Marvel: USBRL Project The new railway line is part of the ambitious Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project—one of India’s most challenging and technologically advanced railway undertakings. The project boasts several engineering milestones, including: Anji Khad Bridge – India’s first cable-stayed railway bridge, featuring a 331-metre-high pylon. Chenab Railway Bridge – The tallest railway bridge in the world, standing at 359 metres above the riverbed and surpassing the height of the Eiffel Tower. Advanced Tunneling Infrastructure – Over two dozen small and large tunnels that significantly shorten the journey for passengers. Vande Bharat: Built for Extreme Conditions The Vande Bharat train on this route is specially designed for the region’s extreme climate conditions, with features that set it apart from other Vande Bharat trains across India: Operates smoothly in temperatures as low as -20°C. Equipped with advanced heating systems to ensure passenger comfort. Heated windshields in the driver’s cabin to prevent fogging and ice formation. Anti-freezing plumbing and bio-toilets, ensuring seamless functionality in freezing conditions. 

Next Story
Equipment

Handling concrete better

Efficiently handling the transportation and placement of concrete is essential to help maintain the quality of construction, meet project timelines by minimising downtimes, and reduce costs – by 5 to 15 per cent, according to Sandeep Jain, Director, Arkade Developers. CW explores what the efficient handling of concrete entails.Select wellFirst, a word on choosing the right equipment, such as a mixer with a capacity aligned to the volume required onsite, from Vaibhav Kulkarni, Concrete Expert. “An overly large mixer will increase the idle time (and cost), while one that ..

Next Story
Real Estate

Elevated floors!

Raised access flooring, also called false flooring, is a less common interiors feature than false ceilings, but it has as many uses – if not more.A raised floor is a modular panel installed above the structural floor. The space beneath the raised flooring is typically used to accommodate utilities such as electrical cables, plumbing and HVAC systems. And so, raised flooring is usually associated with buildings with heavy cabling and precise air distribution needs, such as data centres.That said, CW interacted with designers and architects and discovered that false flooring can come in handy ..

Next Story
Infrastructure Urban

The Variation Challenge

A variation or change in scope clause is defined in construction contracts to take care of situations arising from change in the defined scope of work. Such changes may arise due to factors such as additions or deletions in the scope of work, modifications in the type, grade or specifications of materials, alterations in specifications or drawings, and acts or omissions of other contractors. Further, ineffective planning, inadequate investigations or surveys and requests from the employer or those within the project’s area of influence can contribute to changes in the scope of work. Ext..

Advertisement

Advertisement

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Get daily newsletters around different themes from Construction world.

STAY CONNECTED

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Talk to us?