Operational cost of Banihal-Baramulla rail link to be less by 40%

Srinagar: The operational cost of the Banihal-Baramulla rail link in Jammu and Kashmir would be reduced by 40 per cent after electrification of the total length of 137.73 kms.
“Electrification will be more economical and its cost would be 40 per cent lower when compared to running the railways on diesel,” a senior northern railway official said.
Northern Railways on Monday successfully completed the trial run of electric train from J&K’s Budgam to Baramulla district.
With a view to provide an alternative and a reliable mass transportation system to Jammu and Kashmir, the Government of Inda had planned a 345 km-long railway line joining the Kashmir Valley with the country’s railway network.
The Jammu-Udhampur-Katra-Qazigund-Baramulla rail line, a project of great importance for the local populace and the country as a whole, has been declared as a ‘National Project’. This project is the most difficult railway line project undertaken in the Indian sub-continent.
The terrain passes through the Himalayas, which are young fold mountains full of geographical surprises, high tectonic activity and extremely cold weather conditions.
The railway link across the Pir Panchal mountain range from Banihal town in the Jammu region to Baramulla town in Kashmir is 173.73 kms whose electrification the Northern Railways has undertaken with three main sub-stations at Qazigund, Budgam and Baramulla from where power will be supplied to the overhead equipment.
The officials of northern railways said that there will be 10 power switching stations in the Banihal-Baramulla section.
“Overhead equipment for the rail line will be supplied with a 25 KV power supply. The transmission substation will be fed by a 132 KV supply from different power grids across J&K.
“Supervisory control and data acquisition system (SCADA) to monitor the traction power distribution will be based at Budgam station.
“We have already approached the J&K administration and the Central government for power supply for electrification of the rail link.
“Electric poles will be erected after every 400-420 metres and it would be more eco-friendly compared to running railways on fuel.
In the first phase, a total of 1,271 electric poles were erected between Budgam and Baramulla stations. Of these, the highest number of 305 poles were erected between Sopore and Baramulla.
Besides, poles were erected between Budgam to Mazhama, Mazhama to Pattan, Pattan to Hamray and Hamray to Sopore.
(IANS)