KashMir rail link proJect to Be coMpleteD By 2020

SRINAGAR: The rail-link from Banihal to Katra, connecting Kashmir valley with the rest of the country, would be completed by 2020, railway officials said in Srinagar on Saturday. “The work on the Banihal to Katra stretch is going on and we are hopeful of completing it by 2020,” general manager, northern Railways, A.K. Puthia said. Puthia added that the 110 km stretch was the most difficult part of the rail-link which connects Baramulla in north Kashmir with Udhampur in Jammu. “About 85% of the track is made of tunnels. There are 25 tunnels in this stretch, of which around 35% has been completed,” he said. The general manager said the track would also have the world’s longest and highest railway bridge. “It will be 359 metres high and will have a span of 467 metres. The bridge is expected to be completed by 2017,” he said. Puthia said the maintenance and services of the railways were affected in the valley post last year’s floods. “The movement of our stocks and coaches was affected after the floods. We recently got permission for carrying those items. When the supply improves, the services will improve,” he said.