Lok Sabha Question No. 4695 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-03-29
Subject: Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link Project
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Hasnain Masoodi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4695 TO BE ANSWERED ON 29.03.2023

## UDHAMPUR-SRINAGAR-BARAMULLA RAIL LINK PROJECT

4695. SHRI HASNAIN MASOODI :

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a)  the  current  status  of  Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla  Rail  Link  (USBRL) project;
- (b) the timeline estimated by the Ministry for the completion of USBRL project; (c)  whether  the  Government  is  likely  to  increase  the  number  of  trains deployed to Kashmir with the completion of USBRL project, if so, the details thereof;
- (d)    whether  the  Government  is  proposing  to  provide  transport  linkages  to tourist destinations nearby the USB rail link; and
- (e)  if so, the details thereof and if not the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, COMMUNICATIONS AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

- (a) to (e): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (e) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4695 BY SHRI HASNAIN MASOODI TO BE ANSWERED  IN  LOK  SABHA  ON  29.03.2023  REGARDING  UDHAMPURSRINAGAR-BARAMULLA RAIL LINK PROJECT. (a)  and (b):  The Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail link (USBRL) project (272 km) was sanctioned in 1994-95.  Anticipated cost of the project is ` 37,012/-  crore,  against  which,  expenditure  of ` 26,786  crore  has  been incurred  up  to  March,  2022  on  the  project.    Out  of  the  total  272  km length of USBRL project, length of 161 Km has already been commissioned.  Work on balance stretch of Katra-Banihal section of 111 Km has been taken up. The completion of any Railway project(s) depends on various factors like quick land acquisition by State Government, forest clearance by officials of  forest  department,  deposition  of  cost    by  State  Government  in  Cost sharing projects, shifting of infringing utilities, statutory clearances from various authorities, geological and topographical conditions of area, law and  order  situation  in  the  area  of  project(s)  site,  number  of  working months in a year for particular project site due to climatic considerations etc.  All these factors affect the completion time of the project(s). (c)  At  present,  19  (nineteen)  Passenger  Special  train  services  are running in Baramula-Badgam-Banihal section of USBRL Project. Moreover,  introduction  of  new  train  services  or  extension  of  existing train  services  is  an  ongoing  process  over  Indian  Railways  subject  to traffic demand, operational feasibility and availability of rolling stock. (d)  and  (e)  New  Line  Projects  are  considered  on  the  basis  of  demands raised by State Governments, Central Ministries, Member of Parliament, other  public  representatives  and  Railways'  own  requirements.    As receipt of such proposals is a continuous and ongoing process,

centralized  compendium  of  such  requests  is  not  maintained.    The proposals  are  taken  up  on  the  basis  of  remunerativeness,  last  mile connectivity, augmentation of congested/saturated lines, socioeconomic  considerations,  missing  links  and  alternate  routes  including connectivity  to  tourist  destinations  etc.,  depending  upon  liabilities  of ongoing  projects,  overall  availability  of  funds  and  competing  demands which is a continuous and ongoing process.

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