Lok Sabha Question No. 2781 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-06
Subject: Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Shri Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2781

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 06.08.2025

## UDHAMPUR-SRINAGAR-BARAMULLA RAIL LINK

## 2781. SHRI AGA SYED RUHULLAH  MEHDI:

## Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government  has conducted any environmental impact  assessments  of  the  Chenab  and  Anji  Khad  bridges  in fragile Himalayan zones;
- (b) if so, the key details of the findings including risks to local ecology and slope stability;
- (c) the  details  of  the  safeguards  implemented  to  prevent  ecological imbalance caused by the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project;
- (d) the  details  of  the  quantifiable  impact  of  the  project  on  local employment and tourism in Kashmir;
- (e) the details of the number  of households fully or partially displaced due to land acquisition along with the number of them received compensation, rehabilitation till June 2025; and
- (f) the  details  of  the  mechanism  available  for  resolving  pending claims related to displacement and resettlement?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, INFORMATION & BROADCASTING AND

## ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

- (a)  to  (f):  Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla  Rail  Link  (USBRL)  project  of total  length  272  Km  has  been  recently  commissioned.  USBRL  project

covers the districts of Udhampur, Reasi, Ramban, Srinagar, Anantnag,

Pulwama, Budgam and Baramulla of Jammu and Kashmir. The USBRL project is one of the most difficult new railway line projects undertaken  in  the  country  post-independence.  The  terrain  passes through  young  Himalayas,  which  are  full  of  geological  surprises  and numerous  problems.  In  this  project,  Railway  has  made  the  world's highest Railway Bridge over Chenab river in Reasi district of Jammu & Kashmir. The iconic Chenab Bridge is 1315 m long having Arch span of 467 m and height of 359 m above river bed. Indian Railway's first cable stayed bridge has been constructed over Anji Khad in this project. Its bridge  deck  is  331m  above  the  river  bed  level  and  height  of  its  Main pylon is 193m. The USBRL project has made substantial socio-economic contributions to the region, with employment generation being a significant aspect of its  impact.  The  project  has  generated  more  than  5  Cr.  man-days  of employment. Another crucial facet of the USBRL Project's socio-economic development  efforts  has  been  the  construction  of  over  215  km  of approach roads, which include construction of a tunnel and 320 small bridges. This road network has helped the local population in improvement of their connectivity with other areas and also improvement in socio-economic states. In  accordance  with  international  norms,  adequate  safety  provisions have  been  kept  in  the  USBRL  project.  All  tunnels  having  length  more than 2 Km have been provided with mechanical ventilation systems to ensure  air  quality.  Firefighting  systems  comprising  fire  hydrants  and fire extinguishers have been provided to promptly address and contain potential fire incidents in all the tunnels.  Further, to ensure safety of passenger, escape tunnels have also been made where length of tunnel

is more than 3 Km. Total 66 Km escape tunnels have been made in this project.

To  ensure  minimum  disturbance  to  Himalayan  ecology,  due  care  has been taken for slope stabilization and the best institutes of the world were roped in for execution of this project. Comprehensive schemes for slope  stabilization  have  been  adopted  as  per  NEERI  guidelines  and Detailed Design Consultants' suggestions to prevent erosion and damage to natural terrains.

Slope  stability  at  Chenab  Bridge  was  designed  by  Indian  Institute  of Science, Bangalore & IIT/Delhi. Other global firms having experience of such works were also engaged for independent check for slope stability for Chenab Bridge. Slope stability at Anji Bridge was also designed and proof checked by the experienced global firms.

Further,  Environmental  Impact  Assessments  due  to  construction  of Katra-Qazigund new rail line, including  Chenab and Anji Khad bridges have also been conducted through National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI), Nagpur. Extensive safeguards and mitigation measures have been implemented based on the Environmental Management Plan (EMP) prepared by NEERI.

Sedimentation  tanks  have  been  constructed  at  tunnel  outlets  before discharging  into  natural  nallas  to  manage  tunnel  excavated  material. Alternative  water  sources  were  provided  to  villages  where  natural sources were disrupted by resorting to reverse pumping. Proper lined drains  and  stepped  chutes  were  constructed  at  required  locations  to ensure  smooth  flow  of  surface  water  and  prevent  erosion  at  muck yards.

Advanced  techniques of controlled blasting were  adopted  during tunnelling  to  minimize  vibrations  and  environmental  damage.  Sensors have  been  installed  in  all  tunnels  in  Katra-Banihal  section  to  monitor the Air Quality during operational phase also.

The entire rail project is electrified using a overhead conductor system in tunnels and in open stretches. Rail transportation is most environment friendly transportation mode, significantly reducing carbon footprint compared to diesel traction.

While specific measures for biodiversity conservation are delineated in the  EMP,  the  overall  environmental  mitigation  efforts  contribute  to protecting local ecology. Guidelines for site preparation for plantation activity  on  dumping  sites  include  planting  native  species  and  turfing with grass for eco-restoration.

With the all-weather, reliable and comfortable rail connectivity of valley portion with rest of the Indian Railway network, tourism will get a big boost.

The USBRL project (272 Km) has been constructed completely in the Union  territory  of  Jammu  &  Kashmir.  Land  acquisitions  were  carried out as per the prevalent 'Jammu & Kashmir State Land Acquisition Act 1990'.  The  Land  Acquisition  was  conducted  through  Collector  Land Acquisition, appointed by District Administration.

Assessment of land ownership, structures, identification of beneficiaries, calculation of compensations for land & structures, trees etc was done. Awards in this regard were published and disbursed the compensation amount.

Total land acquired for USBRL Project includes 1559.48 Ha of Private land  and  276.71  Ha  of  Govt.  Land.  Complete  payment  of  these  land acquisitions  amounting  to  Rs.  816.21  Cr.  has  already  been  deposited with concerned Collector Land Acquisition. The mechanism for resolving pending claims related to land acquisition is already included vide section 18 of Jammu & Kashmir State Land Acquisition Act 1990.

Railway acquires land through concerned State/District Authorities. All the  activities  in  connection  with  land  acquisition  like  assessment  of amount of compensation to land losers etc. are  under  purview of the State  Government.  Compensation  for  land  acquisition  is  made  to  the land losers by the Revenue Department of the State Government after demanding the same from Railways.

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