Rail Connectivity in Kashmir to Improve Further; DPRs Prepared for New Projects, Sopore-Kupwara Line Dropped as Infeasible | Kashmir Life

SRINAGAR: The Government has prepared a Detailed Project Report (DPR) for a new 34-kilometre railway line between Sopore and Kupwara to extend the existing Srinagar–Baramulla section. However, the project was later shelved after being deemed technically and financially unfeasible.

To further improve rail connectivity in Jammu and Kashmir, DPRs have also been prepared for two other projects: doubling the 118-kilometre Qazigund–Srinagar–Budgam section and constructing a 40-kilometre line from Baramulla to Uri.

The Union Minister for Railways, Ashwini Vaishnaw, informed the Rajya Sabha that project approvals require consultations with state governments and clearance from bodies such as NITI Aayog and the Ministry of Finance, making timelines for approvals flexible.

He added that the 272-kilometre Udhampur–Srinagar–Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) has been commissioned, connecting Udhampur, Reasi, Ramban, Srinagar, Anantnag, Pulwama, Budgam, and Baramulla. The project has generated over five crore man-days of employment and included the construction of 215 kilometres of approach roads, tunnels, and around 320 small bridges.

Vaishnaw said that the USBRL has enhanced connectivity, contributed to local development, and is expected to boost tourism in the Kashmir Valley.