Katra-Banihal railway line on fast-track; Piyush Goyal says link to be completed by 2022

Union Railway Minister Piyush Goyal on Tuesday anunced that Banihal to Katra railway link in Jammu and Kashmir will be completed by 2022. 

In Rajya Sabha he stated, "Before 75th Independence day of India, Banihal to Katra link will be completed from Kanyakumari to Baramulla through rail."

READ | Platform ticket price for over 250 railway stations hiked to Rs 50 as Coronavirus measure

Minister tweeted, "Before August 2022, that is, till completion of 75 years of independence, railway work from Katra to Banihal will be finished, and this will create an Indian rail from Kanyakumari to Baramulla."

READ |  curtains, blankets in trains amid coronavirus outbreak: Railways

Katra-Banihal Railway Track:

railway track is a 111-km long stretch which would connect Kashmir Valley with rest of India. railway track will start from Jammu and end at Baramulla. 

Designed to withstand wind speeds of up to 260 km per hour, 1.315-km-long "engineering marvel" will connect Bakkal (Katra) and Kauri (Srinagar). bridge forms a crucial link in 111-km stretch between Katra and Banihal, which is part of Udhampur- Srinagar-Baramulla rail link project.

rail line is expected to be 35 meters taller than Eiffel Tower. railway track is being constructed in hostile terrain and will be 359 meters above river bed. 

READ | J&K: Screening at Banihal railway station amid coronavirus scare

Earlier in Rajya Sabha, several opposition members on Tuesday raised concerns over poor financial health of railways, reduced job opportunities and delay in execution of major projects and privatization of national transporter. 

Refusing claims made by Opposition, Minister asserted that re is plan to privatise Indian Railways as it belongs to people.

READ | Rajya Sabha members raise concern over railways' poor financial health, project delays