The Ministry of Railways has sanctioned the Final Location Survey (FLS) for an additional new railway line covering a stretch of almost 78 kilometres between Jammu and Mata Vaishno Devi (Katra).
According to an official communication from the Railway Board, a copy of which lies with the news agency, the Centre-proposed survey covers a stretch of 77.96 kilometres.
The survey will be conducted at an estimated cost of Rs 12.59 crore to lay the groundwork for this future railway line, according to the document.
This Final Location Survey will lay the groundwork for the future construction of this vital railway link. Northern Railway, the executing authority for this project, will oversee the FLS.
The project is expected to bolster connectivity and facilitate smoother travel for the millions of pilgrims visiting the sacred shrine at Katra and improve transport infrastructure in Jammu & Kashmir."The new railway line between Jammu and Mata Vaishno Devi (Katra) is set to bring great convenience to travellers, especially devotees heading to the shrine. With this new route, the journey can now be made more comfortably and efficiently by train," a devotee said.
Meanwhile, five new railway surveys are currently underway in J&K, which will mostly enhance connectivity to north and south Kashmir.
The five new railway surveys in Jammu and Kashmir, aimed at enhancing regional connectivity, are Baramulla–Uri (46 km), Sopore–Kupwara (37 km), Anantnag–Pahalgam (78 km), Avantipora–Shopian (28 km), and the doubling of the Banihal–Baramulla rail line (118 km), which has been placed on the government’s priority list. While these surveys signal progress, several other proposed rail projects have been shelved due to feasibility and cost concerns.
The Srinagar–Kargil–Leh railway line, spanning 480 km and estimated at Rs 55,896 crore, was dropped after a survey conducted in 2016–17 showed low traffic demand. Similarly, the Jammu–Poonch line via Akhnoor and Rajouri (223 km), with a cost estimate of Rs 22,771 crore, remains stalled despite a completed survey, citing low projected ridership.
The 272-km Udhampur–Srinagar–Baramulla Rail Link Project, which was started in 1997, took almost 28 years to become operational. Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Udhampur–Srinagar–Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) during his visit to Jammu and Kashmir on June 6 this year. PM Narendra Modi flagged off the first Katra–Srinagar Vande Bharat Express – the first train to directly connect the Valley with the rest of India. Built at a cost of Rs 43,780 crore, the 272-km-long rail line cuts through some of the most challenging terrain in the Himalayas.
The project features 36 main tunnels covering nearly 120 km, eight escape tunnels, and 943 bridges spanning rivers, gorges, and mountain passes.