Railways prepare DPRs for new and expanded rail lines in J&K border region

In a move aimed at strengthening rail connectivity in Jammu and Kashmir’s border and Valley regions, the Ministry of Railways has prepared Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) for two key railway projects the doubling of the Qazigund–Srinagar–Budgam section and a new rail line from Baramulla to Uri.

According to official information shared in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday, the DPR for doubling the Qazigund–Srinagar–Budgam railway line spans 118 km, while the proposed Baramulla–Uri new line will cover a distance of 40 km. These projects are intended to enhance rail capacity, improve passenger movement, and extend connectivity closer to sensitive border areas.

The Ministry also informed that a survey and DPR had earlier been prepared for a Sopore–Kupwara new rail line of 34 km to further extend connectivity beyond the existing Srinagar–Baramulla section. However, the project was later dropped after being found infeasible.

Officials clarified that preparation of DPRs does not automatically translate into immediate execution. Sanctioning of railway projects requires consultations with multiple stakeholders, including the state government, and approvals from agencies such as NITI Aayog and the Ministry of Finance. As a result, exact timelines for these projects cannot be fixed at this stage.

The statement highlighted the impact of the recently commissioned Udhampur–Srinagar–Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL), a 272-km project connecting key districts including Udhampur, Reasi, Ramban, Srinagar, Anantnag, Pulwama, Budgam and Baramulla. The USBRL project has emerged as a major driver of socio-economic development in the region, generating over five crore man-days of employment.

In addition to rail infrastructure, the project led to the construction of more than 215 km of approach roads, including tunnels and around 320 small bridges, significantly improving local connectivity and access to remote areas.

With reliable, all-weather rail connectivity linking the Kashmir Valley to the rest of the Indian Railways network, the government expects a substantial boost to tourism and economic activity in the region.

The information was provided by Union Minister for Railways, Information and Broadcasting, and Electronics and Information Technology, Ashwini Vaishnaw, in a written reply to a question in the Upper House.