Udhampur-Baramulla Rail Link Set to Begin Operations by January

20 Dec 2024 CW Team

The much-anticipated Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) is nearing completion, with operations likely to commence in January 2025, according to Northern Railway General Manager Ashok Verma. Speaking to reporters, Verma confirmed that work on the final tunnel in the Reasi region, known as T-33, is expected to be finished within a week. "We are hopeful of achieving connectivity by January. Once completed, all trains, including Vande Bharat, will operate on this route, and a timetable will be prepared," Verma said. The completion of the USBRL is expected to transform connectivity for Kashmir, linking the region to the rest of the country via rail for the first time. Verma highlighted the significant impact this project will have, stating, "There will be a total change in the situation in Kashmir." The 3.2-km T-33 tunnel, located near the Vaishno Devi foothills and connecting Katra to Reasi, marks the final piece of the 17-km stretch between the two towns. With track-laying complete and electrical work set to finish within a week, a CRS (Commissioner of Railway Safety) inspection is scheduled in the next 15 days, paving the way for train operations. Once operational, the USBRL will enable direct train services from Kashmir to Delhi, enhancing connectivity and bolstering economic growth in the region. General Manager Verma also visited several railway stations in the Valley to review ongoing infrastructure developments and operational readiness. (ET)

Infrastructure Transport

09 Jan 2026

India Becomes First to Produce Bio-Bitumen for Roads

India has become the first country in the world to commercially produce bio-bitumen for use in road construction, according to Road, Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari. Bitumen, a black and viscous hydrocarbon derived from crude oil, is a key binding material in road building, and the bio-based alternative is expected to significantly improve the sector’s environmental footprint.Addressing the CSIR Technology Transfer Ceremony in New Delhi, Mr Gadkari congratulated Council of Scientific and Industrial Research on achieving the milestone, noting that the initiative would help curb ..

HILT Policy Seen Boosting Telangana Revenue Sharply

The Hyderabad Industrial Land Transformation (HILT) Policy is expected to generate around Rs 1.08 billion in revenue for the Telangana state exchequer, according to Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka Mallu. Speaking in the Telangana Legislative Assembly, he said the policy would be implemented within a six-month timeframe in a transparent manner, with uniform rules applicable to all stakeholders. Mr Vikramarka noted that without the HILT Policy, the state would have earned only about Rs 1.2 million per acre. Under the new framework, however, revenue is projected to rise sharply to Rs 70 ..

India Post, MoRD Tie Up to Boost Rural Inclusion

The Department of Posts and the Ministry of Rural Development have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to accelerate rural transformation and expand financial, digital and logistics services for Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and rural households across India. The agreement was signed in the presence of Union Minister of Communications and Development of North Eastern Region Jyotiraditya M. Scindia and Union Minister of Rural Development and Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Shivraj Singh Chouhan. The collaboration aligns with the government’s “Dak Sewa, Jan Sewa” vision and seeks to repositi..