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The planning group also cleared two capacity expansion projects in Punjab and Haryana—third line between Ludhiana–Jalandhar Cantt and fourth line between Ambala Cantt–Sahnewal
The two projects come weeks after the completion of the Udhampur–Srinagar–Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) in June this year. (Image for Representation)
The Union government has approved a new 40km Baramulla-Uri rail line and doubling of the Qazigund to Badgam line to boost train connectivity in Jammu and Kashmir.
The two projects come weeks after the completion of the Udhampur–Srinagar–Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) in June this year.
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The projects were approved in the 99th meeting of the Network Planning Group (NPG) convened on Wednesday to evaluate infrastructure projects, an official statement from the Ministry of Commerce & Industry said.
Baramulla to Uri new Broad Gauge (BG) line will provide all-weather, reliable rail connectivity, addressing frequent disruptions faced by road travel during harsh weather.
Uri, located near the Line of Control at Kaman Post, has already emerged as a border tourism destination. With the new railway line, tourism in the region is expected to receive a significant boost.
“The project also holds strategic importance as Baramulla and Uri Tehsil house major Indian Army establishments and lie close to the border,” the statement said, adding that the project will require fresh land acquisition.
In March, News18 had reported that the ministry, in its survey, found that Jammu and Poonch via Akhnoor and Rajouri (223 km) has low traffic projections, and is exploring five new routes instead. Uri-Baramula was among the routes.
Doubling of Qazigund to Badgam
The second project cleared for J&K is the doubling of the 74 km Qazigund–Badgam line.
“With the commissioning of the Katra–Banihal section in 2025, the corridor will be fully integrated with the Indian Railways network, offering huge potential for passenger and freight traffic,” the statement added.
This line also has strategic importance, allowing seamless movement of military special trains carrying Army personnel, equipment, and supplies.
“Doubling will increase capacity, reduce delays, and strengthen connectivity across the Valley. The project will also boost tourism and local economic activity, while ensuring faster, safer, and reliable logistics for defence needs. The proposal marks another step towards building a resilient and strategically vital railway network in Jammu & Kashmir,” the statement added.
Expansion along Punjab-Haryana
Alongside these J&K projects, the NPG also cleared two major capacity expansion projects in Punjab and Haryana—third line between Ludhiana–Jalandhar Cantt and a fourth line between Ambala Cantt–Sahnewal, covering 138 km on Broad Gauge.
“The alignment passes through key districts of Punjab (Patiala, Fatehgarh Sahib, Ludhiana, Kapurthala, Jalandhar) and Ambala district in Haryana. The project will reduce travel time, ease congestion, and increase capacity for both passenger and freight trains. It will cover 21 stations, including Ambala Cantt, Patiala, Ludhiana, Kapurthala, and Jalandhar,” the statement said.
This section forms part of the Ambala–Ludhiana–Jalandhar–Amritsar corridor, which currently handles nearly 92 trains per direction per day.
The additional lines will provide crucial capacity augmentation, benefitting agriculture, trade, tourism, and industry in the region.
Strategically, the project holds exceptional importance for national security, as the corridor serves as the shortest and most vital rail link to Jammu & Kashmir, enabling faster movement of defence personnel, logistics, and supplies to border areas.
About the Author
Nivedita Singh is a data journalist and covers the Election Commission, Indian Railways and Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. She has nearly seven years of experience in the news media. She tweets @nived…Read More
Nivedita Singh is a data journalist and covers the Election Commission, Indian Railways and Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. She has nearly seven years of experience in the news media. She tweets @nived… Read More
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Jammu and Kashmir, India, India
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