Railways seek IAF help for building Kashmir rail line

For the first time, Railways are taking the help of Indian Air Force in construction of a important stretch between Katra and Qazigund in the prestigious Kashmir rail link project.

According to Northern Railway, work between Dugga and Sangaldan was stuck for more than a year as it was getting difficult to transport construction material for laying the tracks. Besides, in normal course, road construction will take three to four years.

To expedite the construction of road, which is key to building to the rail link, the help of IAF is being taken.

"We sought the help of Air Force in airlifting the construction materials like dippers, excavators to the construction site and the airlifting has already started," a senior Northern Railway official said.

The Katra-Qazigund section of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla rail link project is one of the toughest stretches without any road access.

Railways have already constructed 260km of road network to built 130km of railway line.

The objective is to move the transportation material and workers to the construction site.

As it was getting too difficult for the Railways to carry out work between Reasi and Dugga, the construction work was stopped since July 2008.