Bogey Rolls Out

Amba Batra Bakshi June 08, 2009 00:00 IST Bogey Rolls Out -0001-11-30T00:00:00+05:53

Riding Rails

• The J&K rail project, linking Jammu with Kashmir Valley, halted in 2008, will restart
  
• Concerns over safety of Chenab bridge, highest in the world, stopped work
  
• The Banihal Pass Tunnel, longest in Indian rail, was considered for realignment
  
• The tunnel link to be completed in July. Official deadline for entire project is 2012. But it may take longer.

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The ambitious, 292-km Jammu and Kashmir Railway project is back on track. It was halted last year with concerns over the safety of the bridge over the Chenab river and trouble with the terrain, resulting in a rethink on alignment options. But the new projection of the railway ministry is that an essential element of the rail link between Jammu and Kashmir will be in place by this July, with the completion of the Banihal Pass Tunnel.

An internal committee set up last year by the ministry to look into the problems before the project and to discuss realignment...