*DPRs ready for Valley rail expansion
Govind Sharma
JAMMU, Feb 6: The long-pending proposal for a Metro or Metro-like urban transit system in Jammu received fresh momentum in the Rajya Sabha today, with Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw revealing that a special train design suited for high-altitude regions such as Jammu and Kashmir has been readied and is close to a decision stage.
Replying during Question Hour to a query raised by BJP-nominated MP Gulam Ali, the Railway Minister acknowledged the technical challenges of operating rail-based urban transport in the region’s unique terrain and climatic conditions. He said that rail operations in high-altitude areas require customized engineering solutions and confirmed that the design for such trains has already been prepared.
The matter, he added, would also be taken up with Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, who oversees Metro projects, indicating inter-ministerial coordination on the Jammu Metro proposal. Vaishnaw’s statement is being seen as a significant step towards enhanced urban mobility in Jammu, where rapid urbanization and traffic congestion have intensified demands for a modern mass transit system.
On rail infrastructure in the Kashmir Valley, the Minister informed the House that the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the Qazigund-Srinagar-Budgam doubling project, spanning 118 km, has been prepared. He also confirmed that DPRs for other strategic projects, including the Baramulla-Uri new line (40 km), are ready. However, he clarified that sanctioning of projects involves consultations with multiple stakeholders, including the UT administration, besides mandatory appraisals by NITI Aayog and the Ministry of Finance, making it difficult to commit to fixed timelines.
Referring to other initiatives, Vaishnaw said a survey for a Sopore-Kupwara (34 km) new line had earlier been sanctioned and a DPR prepared, but the project was dropped after being found infeasible. He also noted that Railways have decided against laying spurs off the main line in certain areas due to concerns raised by farmers over potential damage to apple orchards.
Towards the end of his reply, the Minister highlighted the recently commissioned 272-km Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL), calling it a transformative project for J&K. Covering eight districts, the USBRL has generated over five crore man-days of employment and included construction of more than 215 km of approach roads, a tunnel and 320 small bridges. With all-weather rail connectivity now in place, he said, tourism and socio-economic activity in the Valley are expected to receive a major boost
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