Kashmir to Kanyakumari rail connectivity set to start

Anantnag, Dec 17: The construction work on the Reasi Tunnel is set to be completed by the end of December, following which the much-anticipated CSR inspection will be conducted, the General Manager (GM) of Northern Railway, Ashok Kumar Verma said Tuesday.This milestone will mark the completion of the prestigious Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project, which will establish direct rail connectivity from Kashmir to Kanyakumari.The work on the T1 Tunnel at Reasi is in its final stages and is expected to be completed by the end of this month,” Verma told the media persons at Anantnag Railway Station.He said that the necessary CSR inspection would follow, after which rail service from Katra to Srinagar is expected to commence soon.During his visit to Anantnag Railway Station, Verma reviewed the operations and assessed ongoing infrastructure development.He highlighted the significance of Anantnag as a tourist hub, saying that enhanced rail connectivity would boost tourism in the region.Verma said that premium trains, including the Vande Bharat Express, would soon operate in Kashmir, providing better travel options for both locals and visitors.“The stoppages of these trains will be finalised based on passenger footfall once services begin,” Verma said.He said optimising further halts would depend upon the passenger footfall at that particular station.