Ironclad Tracks: ₹238 Crore Safety Upgrade for Jammu-Katra Rail Line

Indian Railways has approved ₹238 crore worth of safety and infrastructure works on the Jammu–Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra section of Northern Railway to strengthen operational safety and resilience along one of the country’s most challenging rail corridors.

The sanctioned works include slope stabilisation, tunnel rehabilitation, seepage treatment inside tunnels, bridge protection measures and other safety interventions at vulnerable points across the Katra section.

Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said the initiative reflects the government’s continued focus on ensuring safe and reliable rail connectivity through difficult Himalayan terrain. He noted that the project follows detailed technical assessments of cuttings, bridges and tunnels, and is intended to improve the long-term safety and reliability of the strategically important route.

The Jammu–Katra rail section has long faced engineering and operational challenges due to steep gradients, fragile geological conditions and extreme weather. Despite these constraints, Indian Railways has continued phased infrastructure upgrades, with the newly approved works expected to further enhance resilience and passenger safety on the heavily used pilgrimage route.

Separately, Indian Railways has also approved the 54-km Kiul–Jhajha third-line project at an estimated cost of ₹962 crore to boost capacity on the busy Howrah–Delhi corridor.

Vaishnaw said the additional line will improve network capacity, ease congestion and enhance punctuality and operational flexibility for both passenger and freight services. He added that the project will support industrial growth and strengthen trade connectivity across eastern and northern India.

The existing double-line stretch between Kiul and Jhajha is currently operating beyond optimal capacity, with traffic projected to increase further in the coming years. The third-line expansion is expected to remove bottlenecks, improve freight efficiency and strengthen connectivity between Patna and Kolkata, while supporting logistics and industrial hubs across the region.

News by Rahul Yelligetti.