Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, May 28: Twenty-five kilometers long Udhampur-Katra railway track constructed at an approximated cost of Rs 1000 crores would be the first major project, which new Prime Minister Narendra Modi would inaugurate in Jammu and Kashmir, most likely in third week of June. The project is almost ready and the Railways authorities would like it to be inaugurated by Modi.
Top official sources told the Excelsior that Modi, who had launched his election campaign by paying obeisance to Goddess Vaishno Devi on March 26 followed by holding his first election rally in border town of Hiranagar in Udhampur-Doda Lok Sabha seat, which the BJP won comprehensively defeating Congress bigwig Ghulam Nabi Azad, wanted to visit Vaishno Devi shrine at the earliest and simultaneously dedicate to nation the railway like to Katra, which would take thousands of pilgrims visiting daily to the holy cave directly to the base camp of the shrine.
Sources confirmed that all deficiencies pointed out by the Commissioner Railways Safety (CRS) during his visit on Udhampur-Katra track in January ahead of proposed inauguration of the project by the then Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh on February 2 this year, had been rectified.
The CRS had pointed out some problems in alignment of 154 meters Steel Girder over river Jhajjar and T-1 tunnel. The minor problems, which led to delay in inauguration of project on February 2 after missing of several deadlines, have been overcome and the project is now safely ready for inauguration, sources said, adding that final touches were being given to the project pending formal inauguration.
Sources said a senior officer of the USBRL project (as Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link project is known) was camping in New Delhi to give presentation to top officials of the Northern Railways after which a date would be decided for inauguration of the much awaited but delayed railway project, most likely in third week of June. They added that Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with Railways Minister Sadanand Gowda could inaugurate the project.
According to sources, the Prime Minister would coincide his visit to inaugurate the railway project with visit to holy cave shrine of Goddess Vaishno Devi ji. They said Modi had visited the shrine before start of his election campaign and would visit there after becoming the Prime Minister.
The Udhampur-Katra railway track has missed several deadlines, the latest one being February 2 when even date, timing and venue of the inauguration of the project by Dr Manmohan Singh had been finalised. Dr Singh had visited Jammu and inaugurated the Indian Science Congress on February 1 but inauguration of railway project was deferred in the absence of clearance by the Commissioner Railways Safety.
However, now when the Railways authorities have overcome the deficiencies pointed out by the CRS, the project can be inaugurated anytime.
It may be mentioned here that on an average about 30,000 pilgrims visit Katra, the base camp of Mata Vaishno Devi ji shrine, daily. The number swells to 40,000 on weekends and vacations. Direct train to Katra, which at present runs up only to Jammu and Udhampur, would benefit the pilgrims, sources noted.
Udhampur-Katra section is 25 kilometers long and involves about 11 kilometers of tunneling, 9 major bridges and 29 minor bridges. The cost of the project was stated to be around Rs 1000 crores as it had overshot due to delay in completion of the project.
The tallest bridge on Udhampur-Katra section is 85 meters high (Bridge No. 20) and the longest tunnel is 3.15 kilometers.
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