The Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS), Northern Circle, Dinesh Chand Deshwal, has completed the final safety inspection of the Katra-Srinagar section of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) in Jammu and Kashmir, bringing the strategically important railway corridor closer to the commencement of passenger services.
The inspection covered the entire corridor between Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra and Srinagar, with particular attention to the safety requirements associated with the region’s difficult terrain and challenging weather conditions. Deshwal reviewed the quality of construction and the safety standards adopted across the railway section and expressed satisfaction with the work carried out, officials said.
The assessment extended beyond the railway track itself. Officials examined tunnels, bridges, stations, signalling systems and other safety-related infrastructure, while operational preparedness, passenger amenities and emergency-response arrangements were also reviewed. The exercise is a statutory requirement before a railway section can be cleared for regular passenger operations.
The inspection assumes particular significance for the USBRL, one of India’s most challenging railway infrastructure projects. The corridor traverses the mountainous terrain of Jammu and Kashmir and includes a series of major engineering structures built to overcome steep gradients, deep valleys and difficult geological conditions.
Senior railway officials, including Jammu Divisional Railway Manager Vivek Kumar, accompanied the CRS during the inspection. The railway administration has been asked to implement the suggestions arising from the assessment and rectify any shortcomings within the prescribed timeframe. These measures are expected to pave the way for the next stage of the approval process and the eventual expansion of passenger services on the corridor.
The Katra-Srinagar rail connection is expected to have a wider impact on the region’s mobility and economy. A dependable rail link can improve access to the Kashmir Valley, strengthen tourism and pilgrimage connectivity, support movement of goods and provide an alternative to road transport, particularly during periods when adverse weather affects highway operations.
The completion of the CRS inspection therefore represents an important operational milestone for the USBRL. With the safety assessment now completed, attention shifts to implementing the recommendations and completing the formalities required before regular passenger operations can be expanded on the Katra-Srinagar section.