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The Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh will flag off the Uttar Sampark Kranti Express and dedicate the Jammu Tawi-Udhampur Rail line to the nation at Udhampur on Wednesday, the April 13, 2005. Jammu-Udhampur new broad gauge(BG) rail link is 54.85 kms long and connects Jammu, the winter capital of J&K State with Udhampur, an important district headquarter of J&K and the Headquarters of Northern Command of Indian Army. Construction of Jammu-Udhampur Rail Link Project was sanctioned in the year 1981-82 at an abstract cost of Rs.50 crores. The foundation stone for this project was laid at Udhampur on 14.4.1983 by the then Prime Minister of India, Smt. Indira Gandhi. Due to allotment of meager funds, the construction work progressed at a slow pace. The work gained momentum from 1994-95 onwards. The work on Jammu-Udhampur line was completed on 18.4.2004 and was inspected by Commissioner of Railway Safety, Northern Circle. The completion cost of the Project is likely to be Rs.515 crore. This line will reduce road haulage for the traffic meant for the valley and the hinterland. It will also stimulate the economic development of the region and give an added impetus to the growth of agriculture, horticulture and industries and help in fuller exploitation for the forest and agriculture wealth of the State.
This railway line will give a further boost to tourist traffic for the valley, as the traveling time by road beyond the proposed railhead at Udhampur will be reduced. In addition to the economic gains that are likely to accrue, the proposed extension of the railway line up to Udhampur, would also indirectly add to social and cultural benefits and contribute towards thickening the existing bonds that knit the people of the State with the rest of the nation. Thus, the commissioning of this rail link will go a long way in providing socio-economic up- gradation and development for the State of J&K as a whole.
Completion of Jammu-Udhampur rail link is a first major step forward to the ambitious project of “Bridging Kashmir valley from Jammu to Baramulla” by rail.
Alignment
This new BG rail link constructed between Jammu and Udhampur is in the State of Jammu & Kashmir and lies in the districts of Jammu and Udhampur. The terrain is hilly and tough. The alignment passes through unstable geological formations and is highly undulating, difficult and varying hilly terrain of Shivalik Ranges of Himalayas. It is criss-crossed with numerous nallahs and rivers. The alignment is generally along the river Tawi. From Jammu to Manwal the alignment traverses along the left bank of Tawi River. The alignment crosses river Tawi at Manwal and then it traverses along the right bank of river Tawi upto Udhampur.
The sites of work were extremely difficult. At many locations, the lateral ledge towards Tawi is hardly 20-30 m. The strata at number of locations are highly unstable with steep slopes. There were the challenges to construct this mountain railway right from the conception stage.
The factors to be considered are speeds, gradients stations for easy mobility of passengers, safety, and low cost and ease of maintenance. Construction in mountainous regions includes the building of high embankments, long and tall bridges across deep gorges, long tunnels and deep cutting of the mountains. To add to the challenges were multifold and seismologically sensitive of the young Himalayas
Jammu-Udhampur Rail Link Project is a unique project involving construction of Engineering Marvels with state-of-art-technology. The important features include hollow tapering pier shafts raised on well/raft foundation in seismic zone of Himalayan regions. Cantilever construction of pre-stressed concrete high rise box girders, encompassing rivers, nallahs and unstable hill tops, laying tunnels through soft and medium fragile sedimentary rocky strata, accentuated by the fact that the terrain is tough, approaches are difficult and overall un-favorable working environment. The project links Jammu to Udhampur connecting on way four stations i.e. Bajalta, Sangar, Manwal and Ramnagar and crossing the mighty Tawi river and its tributaries such as Sardan, Ringhal, Gambhir and Dudhar.
There were many first for Indian Railways in the project. Highest bridge of 77 m; longest span of PSC Girder of 102 m; highest embankment of 42 m; maximum dia of well foundation of 15 m; maximum load on bearing of 4100 MT (Seismic) as well as long welded rail and ballastless track on 5 degree curve; high beam sleepers with zero restraint fastening system and flash butt welding by mobile plant.
In comparison with Konkan railways, the Jammu-Udhampur has tunneling of 190 m/km than 103; bridging of 97 m/km which is nearly thrice than that of 32.7 of Konkan and longest span of steel girder of 102 m in comparison with 122m of Konkan railways.
Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link Project
The Central Government in March, 1995 accorded ‘in principle approval to the construction of the above rail line to be funded outside the Railway’s plan, as also its implementation in phases, the first phase being from Udhampur to Katra. Later on, the Government in July, 1997 approved taking up of the work of next phase from Katra to Baramulla. The project has been declared as a ‘National Project’ and it had been decided in February, 2002 that project specific funding will be provided for this project as an additionality to Railways Plan.
The then Hon’ble Prime Minister during his visit to Srinagar on May 23, 2002, said that Udhampur – Srinagar- Baramulla rail line would be completed within 5 years and first train will roll into the Kashmir Valley before 15.8.2007.
The anticipated cost of the project as per pink book is Rs. 5550 crore. The cost is yet to be firmed up as detailed construction survey is still in progress. However, the cost is now estimated to be about Rs.7000 crore. This section is 287 kilometres in length and will pass through Katra, Reasi, Sangal Dam, Banihal, Quazigund, Avantipura, Srinagar and Baramulla.
Jalandhar Cantt-Pathankot Jammu Tawi Doubling Project
As announced by the Minister of Railways in his budget speech the entire project is targetted for completion in March-07. Work is going on in full swing to achieve the target.
Two sub-sections of this project namely (i) Bharoli – Madhopur Punjab (12 KM) & (ii) Mukerian – Mirthal (18 KM) have been completed and are going to be commissioned shortly. Another section between Suchipind to Bhogpur Sirwal (27 KM) will be commissioned by June-05. Further 79 KM are targeted for completion by March-06. Remaining portion will be completed by March-07. Once doubling of Jalandhar-Pathankot-Jammu Tawi is completed, it will provide better & faster services and will give great impetus to industrial & business activities in the region. It will also be a great boon for the millions of devotees from all over the country visiting Ma Vaishno Devi Shrine.
*DPR (Railways), PIB, New Delhi
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