Committee to formulate policy guidelines for rail tunnels

New Delhi, Aug 27 (UNI) The Railway Ministry has constituted a four-member committee to formulate policy guidelines for construction of state-of-the-art rail tunnels with ventilation, monitoring device and control room for safe operation of trains in the challenging terrain between Udhampur and Baramulla in Jammu and Kashmir.

A ministry official today said the committee would study various practices in electrified and non-electrified rail tunnels in India and different parts of the world and suggest various aspects of working in tunnels that could help improve passenger safety and comfort, including operation and maintenance strategy.

The Committee, to be headed by Mr Sudhir Kumar, Executive Director, Engineer Energy Management, Railway Board, will submit its recommendations within three months from the date of its constitution.

Mr Kumar will be the Convener of the Committee. Its three members are R.K.Chowdhary, Chief Electrical Engineer/Construction (J&K), Northern Railway, B.P.Awasthi, Deputy Chief Engineer/Construction, Northern Railway and Sanjay Kubba, Director/Safety, Railway Board.

With a view to providing an alternative and the reliable transportation system to Jammu and Kashmir, the Centre has planned a 345 km long railway line joining the Kashmir valley with the railway network.

The plan has been declared as a Project of National Importance.

The rail link between Jammu and Udhampur has been opened to public since April 2005.

The official said the panel would also study various monitoring devices installed in the tunnels and control room for safe operation of trains and identify the best suited system for the Udhampur-Baramulla project.

The committee will interact with consultants and agencies specialising in ventilation in different world railways and identify the technology best suited for Indian conditions.

It will also share the experience of different world railways in maintaining these tunnels, understand the operational and maintenance needs and infrastructure requirements and also study various guidelines of International Union of Railways (UIC) on the subject.

Besides studying the existing code of practices as well as laying down the criteria for ventilation in tunnels for normal operation on electric traction, the Committee will also study the measures being adopted for relief and rescue operations in case of fire accidents or disasters inside the tunnel.

UNI