A rail line connecting Jammu with Kashmir through a 11-km tunnel under the mighty Pir Panjal mountain ranges would be completed by 2017-18, the government told the Rajya Sabha on Friday.
The 25-km rail line connecting Udhampur and Katra and Qazigund and Banihal is expected to be complete in the current financial year, minister of state for Railways Bharatsinh Solanki said.
The 129-km Katra-Banihal section is targeted to be completed by 2017-18, Solanki said replying to the question put by Saifuddin Soz (Cong).
The minister said work on the Udhampur-Katra section has been delayed due to problem of squeezing and swelling faced in tunnel T-1 and problem of excessive seepage faced in tunnel T-3.
He said remedial solution has been found and work on the section was now 95 % complete.
Solanki said work on the Katra-Qazigund section (148 km) remained suspended for more than a year after geological problems were faced during construction.
An expert committee was appointed to examine various issues involved, including an alternative alignment, he said.
{{/usCountry}}An expert committee was appointed to examine various issues involved, including an alternative alignment, he said.
{{/usCountry}}"As per the Committee's recommendations, work on this section has recommenced in September 2009," Solanki said.