J&K witnessing rapid transformation in maintenance, upgradation of tracks & coaches

Jammu, Jul 27: Deployment of track machines has been augmented by the Indian Railway to strengthen maintenance activities in the Kashmir valley as a part of rapid transformation being witnessed in J&K in upgradation of tracks and coaches.

Besides Diesel Electric Multiple Unit (DEMU), Mainline Electric Multiple Unit (MEMU) coaches operated in the Valley are being brought to Lucknow workshop in a time bound manner through new rail link (Jammu-Srinagar rail line) for their periodic overhauling and equipping them with latest passenger amenities.

The upgradation works of passenger coaches in the Kashmir valley, as per Railways authorities, will be completed by August 31, 2025.

All rakes in service, according to them, will be renovated and upgraded within this timeframe. Deployment of tamping, ballast cleaning machines will ensure safer, smoother rides for passengers in J&K.

New railway link (Jammu-Srinagar line) has enabled movement of track maintenance machines to the Kashmir valley. Maintenance is now being done with modern machines, unlike manual maintenance earlier. This is leading to significant improvement in track quality, officials maintain.

They point out that track upgradation in J&K is part of the process underway throughout the country as better tracks improve safety and ride quality.

By early 2025, 78 percent of India’s tracks have been upgraded to 110 kmph or more. This number was just 39 percent in 2014. This higher proportion should be seen in light of the rise in the total length of tracks in the last decade. Total length of tracks has increased to over 1 lakh km in 2025 from 79,342 km in 2014.

Union Minister for Railways, Ashwini Vaishnaw has stated that the Indian Railway will improve the track quality by significantly upgrading the track technology and maintenance practices.

“Modern track fittings, usage of track machines, ultrasound fracture detection machines, road cum rail vehicles, and integrated track measurement machines will make our track maintenance scientific. AI will be extensively used in detecting defects. These technological changes will substantially improve the working conditions for track maintenance staff,” Vaishnaw has asserted.

Railway officials aver that with the opening of Jammu-Srinagar rail line and the ongoing upgradation works, Jammu and Kashmir will get a new lifeline.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Railway Link (USBRL) project with Chenab and Anji bridges on June 6, 2025, thus achieving a historic milestone in establishing connectivity between the Kashmir valley and Jammu.

Vande Bharat Express train between Katra and Srinagar has become an important mode of transportation on this route.

Officials state that over and above the new train services, opening of this line has made a fundamental change in the ability to maintain rail tracks in Kashmir valley. They inform that a tamping machine has been deployed since early June, 2025. This machine packs the stone chips under the tracks to ensure proper alignment and stability of the tracks. It has so far tamped approximately 88 km of track in the valley. This has improved the ballast cushion and will make the ride smooth.

Two Ballast Cleaning Machines (BCMs) have also been deployed. Ballast is the stone chip collection on tracks. It provides support to railway tracks. These machines are working in tandem and have deep-screened around 11.5 km track. Cleaner ballast leads to safer operation.

Two additional BCMs were sent to the valley in July, 2025. These machines have undertaken deep screening and have executed approximately 2.5 km of track, they point out.

To supplement the tamping and deep screening work by recoupment of ballast, 17 ballast rakes were sent and unloaded in Kashmir valley tracks from ballast depots at Kathua, Qazigund, Madhopur and Jind. Consequently, 19,000 cu m of ballasting was done.

Track Recording Car (TRC) and Oscillation Monitoring System (OMS) runs were also conducted in June, 2025 and July, 2025 respectively. The track quality has been assessed and track stretches requiring attention have been identified.

“All these works have significantly improved track quality in the Kashmir valley. Along with track upgradation, a paradigm shift has happened in the maintenance and upgradation of passenger coaches in Jammu and Kashmir,” officials maintain.

Till the opening of Jammu-Srinagar rail link, there was no rail connectivity of Kashmir valley with the rest of the Indian Railway network. The DEMU and MEMU rakes in Kashmir valley could not be brought to the workshop for periodic maintenance and upgradation.

Periodic Overhauling (POH) was being done by transporting bogies from Budgam to Lucknow on road trailers. This was sub-optimal.

“For the first time, rakes from the valley have been brought to Lucknow through rail for POH. The condition of all the rakes in Budgam is being improved in a time bound manner. The rakes are undergoing maintenance and up-gradation. POH of one MEMU rake has been completed. The upgraded MEMU rake is now operational in the valley. POH of another MEMU rake is likely to be completed by the end of July, 2025,” they inform.

POH of one DEMU rake, according to officials, has been completed at Charbagh workshop. Another DEMU rake is undergoing POH at Charbagh workshop. It is likely to be completed by the mid of August, 2025.

One more DEMU rake is undergoing renovation at Jalandhar shed. It is expected to be made operational by the end of July, 2025 while four more DEMU rakes have been planned for upgradation at Charbagh workshop and Jalandhar shed.

With regard to the details of the upgradation works being carried out, the officials share that exterior PU (polyurethane) painting with anti-graffiti of the entire rake, with a new vibrant colour; fitting of bio tanks in toilets, new water raising pumps for proper functioning of toilets; repairing of seats and replacement with polycarbonate seats; provision of new standing handles; renewal of PVC flooring; buffing of all stainless steel items and repairing of all windows and ensuring hopper type windows are being carried out.

Besides, works are underway to ensure proper functioning of Public Address and Passenger Information System and adequate power and automatic change over switch panel for supply to water raising apparatus.

“This will ensure uninterrupted operation of water raising apparatus even in the absence of generator supply in summer season. Works related to provision of A and C type of mobile charging sockets (with inbuilt short circuit and overload protection) and modular switches for fans and overhauling and renewal of all fans and lights are also underway,” officials inform.