New Delhi: In a major push to improve rail connectivity in border regions of Jammu and Kashmir, Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) have been prepared for the Qazigund–Srinagar–Budgam doubling project (118 km) and the Baramulla–Uri new railway line (40 km), Parliament was informed on Thursday.
Replying to a question in the Rajya Sabha, Ashwini Vaishnaw, Union Minister for Railways, Information & Broadcasting and Electronics & Information Technology, said the proposals aim to further strengthen rail infrastructure in strategically important and remote areas.
He said that to extend rail connectivity beyond the existing Srinagar–Baramulla section, a survey for a Sopore–Kupwara new line (34 km) had earlier been sanctioned and a DPR prepared. However, the project was later dropped after being found technically and economically infeasible.
The Minister clarified that after preparation of DPRs, sanctioning of railway projects involves consultations with multiple stakeholders, including State governments, and mandatory approvals such as appraisal by NITI Aayog and the Ministry of Finance. As project approvals are part of a continuous and dynamic process, he said, specific timelines for sanction cannot be fixed
Highlighting the transformative impact of the recently commissioned Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL), Vaishnaw said the 272-km-long project has emerged as a catalyst for employment generation, socio-economic upliftment, and tourism growth in Jammu and Kashmir. The USBRL passes through the districts of Udhampur, Reasi, Ramban, Srinagar, Anantnag, Pulwama, Budgam, and Baramulla
The Minister informed the House that the USBRL project has generated over five crore man-days of employment, making it one of the most significant infrastructure-led employment drivers in the region. As part of allied development works, more than 215 km of approach roads have also been constructed, including a tunnel and around 320 small bridges, substantially improving connectivity for local populations and enhancing their socio-economic conditions.
With the Valley now connected to the rest of the Indian Railways network through all-weather, reliable, and comfortable rail services, the Minister said tourism in Jammu and Kashmir is expected to receive a major boost in the coming years.
