15-Dec-2022: Another iconic moment on Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link Project (USBRL) : India’s Longest Escape Tunnel made through by successfully negotiating major cavity formation

The USBRL (Udhampur Srinagar Baramulla Rail Link) is a National project undertaken by the Indian Railways for construction of broad-gauge railway line through the Himalayas, with the aim of connecting the Kashmir region with rest of the country. On December 15th, 2022, a major milestone has been achieved by executing the breakthrough of Escape Tunnel T-49 between Sumber and Khari Stations on the Katra –Banihal section of the USBRL project. The length of the escape tunnel is 12.895 km. This is the longest escape tunnel of India and the line and level of the tunnel are precisely achieved during the breakthrough of the Escape Tunnel. This breakthrough has been achieved in presence of Shri S.P. Mahi, Chief administrative officer/USBRL, with his team of officials and staff.

The Tunnel T-49 is a twin tube tunnel comprising the Main tunnel (12.75 Kms.) & Escape Tunnel (12.895 Kms.) connected with 33 numbers of cross-passages at every cross passages. The main tunnel mining was already completed and final lining works are progressing at rapid pace. The Tunnel is constructed as per International standards, in which provision of an Escape Tunnel has been made to facilitate rescue and restoration works in emergency cases.  The Escape Tunnel passes through the Ramban formation of the Young Himalayas and besides this, various distributaries/Nallahs of Chenab River like Khoda, Hingni, Kundan nallah  etc. Cross all along the alignment, making mining more of a highly challenging task.

Several Challenges were encountered in the course of construction such as shear zone, perched aquifer, and highly jointed rock mass, rock problems of excessive squeezing and heavy ingress of water. On the north end, the tunnel alignment passes through very weak shear zone of carbonaceous phillite. The tunnel mining was very challenging and several surprises were met during tunneling. Excessive deformations were recorded during tunneling at several locations between Kundan and Seeran, but these challenges were successfully tackled professionally. Also a major cavity was encountered in escape tunnel on 21.03.2021 at Ch. 12/538 near the north portal due to extremely poor rock mass, the strength of Rock mass was not more than 5 MPA and RQD (Rock quality designation) <10, with damp to wet Ground water Conditions. The calculated RMR( rock mass rating ) is 18, GSI( geological strength index) is 26 and Basic RMR ( Rock Mass Rating ) is16.  The vertical over burden near the cavity location was 150 m. The size of the cavity was about 3 m long and 15 m high from crown, continuous flow of mass was also witnessed and tunneling in ET ( Escape Tunnel) was subsequently suspended. The tunnel face was immediately stabilised and face was sealed. Detailed investigation was carried out and detailed methodology was finalised to attend the cavity and the work was successfully carried out by negotiating the cavity.

The tunnel has been constructed by the New Austrian Tunnelling Method (NATM), which is a modern technique of drill and blast processes. Although the boring work of the tunnel, started from both directions upto the hand-shaking point, the precision of both ends meeting at one point flawless. This is the result of meticulous planning and precise execution of tunneling work, the line and level of the tunnel perfectly matched in both portions after the break-through.

The team of experienced engineers of Indian Railways successfully negotiated all challenges and achieved the major milestone of the breakthrough of the Escape tunnel. During the construction activities of the tunnel, more than 75% of workers from nearby villages were engaged in various construction activities, thereby ushering a positive change in the overall socio-economic landscape of the region.

It is worthwhile to mention that T-49 tunnel(12.75 km) from Sumber to Seeran village in Khari Tehsil area of Ramban district of Jammu and Kashmir  UT is the longest transportation tunnel in the country. It is noteworthy to mention that there are three other tunnels on this project, the length for which are close to that of tunnel T-49 and details for these are as follows :

• Tunnel T48 = 10.20km(Breakthrough already achieved) between village Dharam- Sumber station
• Tunnel T15= 11.25 km between Sangaldhan – Basindhadar stations
• Pirpanjal Tunnel= 11.2km between Banihal – Qazigund stations

14-Sep-2022: Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link Project (USBRL) has brought in employment, prosperity and connectivity to the people

The USBRL (Udhampur Srinagar Baramulla Rail Link) is a National project undertaken by the Indian Railways for construction of broad-gauge railway line through the Himalayas, with the aim of connecting the Kashmir region with rest of the country. The all-weather, comfortable, convenient and cost effective mass transportation system will be the catalyst for the overall development of the northern most alpine region of the country.

Construction of the first three phases of the project has been completed and the line is in operational use for running of trains between Baramulla-Banihal in Kashmir valley and Jammu-Udhampur-Katra in Jammu region. Work on the intervening 111 Km section Katra-Banihal, the most arduous and treacherous portion due to its geology and extensive riverine system replete with deep gorges, is ongoing. There are several iconic bridges and tunnels coming up in this section. Most of the rail track is slated to be in tunnels or bridges in this section.

The project has brought in employment, prosperity and connectivity to the people. The backward districts of Reasi and Ramban have especially benefitted from the project. Hinterlands hitherto inaccessible now have road connectivity. Medical, Educational, Market and Business activities have become easily reachable for the people. The cost of construction of the 111Km Katra-Banihal section so far has been Rs 30672.34 Cr. The Budget allocation to the Project has increased manifolds since 2014, enabling speedy construction activity.

Employment Generation: -

• Job in Railway to ward of landowner, where more than 75% of their land was acquired.
• Land acquired – 1833.92 Ha. and Jobs given to 799 eligible land givers.
• Employment through contractors: 14069 (around 65% employment to locals).
• More than 500 lacs man-days of employment have been generated so far.
• In addition to this, skill development for artisans, many of them are now employed elsewhere.

Construction of Approach Roads: -

• More than 205 Km long approach roads were constructed which include 1 tunnel and 320 bridges.
• This has provided connectivity to 73 villages of far-flung areas (around 1.5 lacs people benefitted).
• Earlier accessible only by foot or boats; now by 4 wheelers.
• PMGSY roads are now taking off from these approach roads
• Hence, immediate benefits of project execution are reaching the local population.

Various Activities Under Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)

• 9 Ambulances provided in Ramban District
• 15 Motorised Wheel Chairs.
• Free medical camps held in Banihal, Ramban and Reasi.
• Covid Quarantine centres.
• Medical equipment given to hospitals: Upgradation of medical facility at Govt. hospital Banihal by providing ECG machines, ultra sound machine X ray plant, and C-Arm table.
• Improvement of Educational Infrastructure: School constructed at Ramban & under construction Sumber. Library upgraded at two Govt. Senior Sec. school at Reasi, construction of Portacabin Toilet blocks in ten schools in Ramban district.
• Training Centre for women: One women training center for tailoring and embroidery established at Banihal.
• Water Supply to villages
• Pucca Village roads.

25-Jan-2021: Shri Piyush Goyal Minister for Railways and Commerce & Industry and Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution reviews the progress of Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail link Project (USBRL)

Shri Piyush Goyal, Minister for Railways and Commerce & Industry and Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution reviewed the progress of Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail link Project (USBRL) today.

Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail link Project (USBRL) having length of 272 Km long Railway Line from Udhampur to Baramulla joining the Kashmir valley with rest of the country is a National Project. Out of 272 Km of USBRL Project, work has been completed and commissioned on 161 Km length. Udhampur - Katra -25km  (commissioned in July 2014), Quazigund - Baramulla – 118km (commissioned in Oct., 2009) and Banihal - Quazigund – 18km  (commissioned in June 2013). The work on intervening stretch of Katra-Banihal section (111 km) is in progress and this section predominantly involves tunnelling work i.e. 97 Km out of 111 Km (i.e. 87%) of length of Katra-Banihal section is in tunnels.

There are 27 nos. of Main tunnel having length of about 97.6 Km and 8 nos. of Escape tunnel having length of 66.4 km. Thus, the cumulative length of 164 Km of tunneling is being constructed on Katra- Banihal section.

At present, about 136Km of tunnelling i.e. 83Km (20 nos.) out of 97Km (27nos.) of Main tunnel and 55 Km (3 nos.) out of 66.4 Km (8 nos.) have been completed.

There are 37nos. of Bridges (combined length of 7 Km) which includes 26 nos. major bridges and 11 nos. minor bridges.

At present 12 nos. of major bridges and 10 nos. minor bridges have been completed and work on all fronts are in full swing.

These bridges include the iconic Chenab Bridge (Overall length 1315 m, Arch span of 467 m and height of 359 m above river bed) which will be the highest railway bridge in the world. Arch Launching of Chenab bridge is in progress and 516 m out of 550m have been completed and only 34m of Arch launching is left. Arch is planned for closure in March 2021.

Indian railway’s first cable stayed bridge is also being constructed on Anji Khad and 120 m of Main Pylon out of 193m has been cast and an ancillary viaduct portion of Anji Bridge has been completed.

Launching of Other Major bridges 39 & 43 is in progress and 191m and 141m of launching have been completed respectively in these major bridges.

Remarkable progress made in post covid Lockdown:

T74R Tunnel near Banihal area in Ramban district : Escape Tunnel of 7.4 Km length made through on 05.12.2020 and Main Tunnel of 8.6 Km length made through on 03.10.2020. Which is 2nd Longest Tunnel constructed on USBRL project after Pir Panjal Tunnel (11.2 Km).

Main tunnel of T2 of 5.2km in Reasi district  was made through  in the month of Aug .2020.

Chenab Bridge- Launching of Arch segment: 373 MT (29m) done in Dec 2020 and 380 MT (24m) in the current month Jan 2021 (up to 21/01/2021).Arch launching of 3262MT was carried out in post covid lockdown. Arch Launching of about  516 m out of 550m ( curved length ) have been completed and only 34m of Arch launching is left. Arch is planned for closure in March 2021.

Anji Bridge –Main Pylon concreting:12m lift for U/S (Upstream) & 4m lift for D/S (Downstream) cast in Dec 2020 and  4m lift for D/S cast in Jan 2021 (upto 21st). 69 m of Main pylon has been cast and ancillary viaduct portion completed in post covid lockdown. Thus ,120 m of Main Pylon out of 193m has been cast and ancillary viaduct portion of Anji Bridge has been completed.

At Br. 39 in Reasi area, launching of 24m length done in Dec. 20 and 48m in Jan 2021 (upto 21st ). Thus the overall launching of 191m has been achieved till now. This entire launching has been executed in post covid lockdown.

Bridge No. 43 in Bakkal (Reasi) area, launching of 21.5m length done in Dec. 2020 and  20m in Jan 2021 (upto 21st). Thus the overall launching of 141m has been achieved till now. This entire launching has been executed in post covid lockdown.

Total Tunnel Mining of 1720 m (MT +ET) done in Dec.2020 and 927m in Jan.2021(upto 21st). About 11.3 km of tunnelling work completed in post covid lockdown. Thus the overall tunnelling of about 136km out of 164km tunnelling has been completed.

Electrification of Banihal- Baramulla section:

The 136 km railway line from Banihal to Baramulla has already been commissioned and its electrification work is in progress. All tenders have been awarded and S&T plan have also been approved and work is under progress in full swing. The target for completion of Railway Electrification works in Banihal-Baramulla section is March-2022.

Due to inclement weather, frequent landslides & washouts, snowfall & rainfalls in the month of  Jan 2021 in Reasi and Ramban districts, which resulted in cutoffs of the National highway 44 and  approach road to the project sites, thereby affecting the progress of work. However, all safety precautions were taken at sites and work is progressing in full swing at all fronts.

Expressing satisfaction on the progress the project Minister of Railways said that, the aspirations of the people of Jammu & Kashmir has to be fulfilled by completing the project so that the region gets a good transportation system to remain connected to the rest of the country all the year round. He called upon the engineers working on the project to expedite the remaining portion on mission mode. He also instructed them to complete the procurement of materials and permission procedures on time so that there is no delay in the construction of the line.