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The first road tunnel as a part of the new rail line project in Jammu & Kashmir, which will serve as a shortest approach for the difficult Chenab river site was made through by Kokan Railway recently. The road tunnel is a part of 250-kilometre approach road network being made by Konkani Railway for enabling construction of the new railway line between Katra and Laole in J&K. the road network is a spin off of the main new railway line project in the State.
The road tunnel, which is 396 metres long double-lane traffic, was made through in about 10 months time. Costing about Rs. 7 crore, the road tunnel has reduced the approach distance to the Chenab river bridge site by 13 km. and has resulted in indirect benefit of almost Rs. 30 to Rs. 40 crores to the railways. The tunnel is supported by steel ribs and concrete and the entire 250 km. road network being constructed by railways will be available to locals for approaching the remote areas of J&K after the completion of the railway line project.
The 90 km long Katra-Laole section with an estimated cost of Ras 4735 crores will have 8 stations, 49 tunnels (total length 68 km inside tunnels), 72 major bridges besides two special bridges one each on Chenab river and Anji khad. Chenab Bridge will be the highest railway bridge in the world (359 metres) across river Chenab. Katra-Loale section is the most difficult stretch of the new rail project as well as any railway project under taken in the world. This is a difficult terrain and consists of largely hilly steep slopes intersected by a number of rivers and khads. The challenges like geological, the terrain, climatic etc. have made this a gigantic project.
BSC/HK/TR
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