J&K fast tracks Rs 10, 599-cr metro project & plans for enhanced rail network
The metro rail lines will consist solely of elevated corridors, as underground tunnels were deemed unfeasible. The coaches of the Metrolite system will be modern, lightweight, and constructed from stainless steel and aluminium, equipped with air-conditioning. The Jammu Light Rail System will span 23 km, encompassing 22 stations from Bantalab to Bari Brahmana. Similarly, the Srinagar Light Rail System will cover a length of 25 km, including a 12.5 km stretch from Indira Nagar to HMT Junction and another 12.5 km from Hazuri Bagh to Osmanabad, with 24 stations distributed evenly between the two corridors.
Additionally, the Ministry of Railways has finalized train services to connect Kashmir with major destinations once the Udhampur Srinagar Baramulla Rail Line (USBRL) is completed. Plans include the introduction of a Vande Bharat train between New Delhi and Srinagar, allowing passengers to arrive in Kashmir in the evening after boarding the train in the morning from the national capital. Furthermore, several other trains are being proposed to establish direct connectivity between Kashmir and prominent destinations such as Mumbai, Rajasthan, Chennai, Kolkata, and Bengaluru.
