Work commences on Udhampur-Baramulla rail project

New Delhi, Dec 3 (ANI): Union Minister of State for Railways K H Muniyappa informed the Lok Sabha on Thursday that the work of new line from Udhampur-Baramulla in Jammu and Kashmir has been initiated.

In a written reply Muniyappa stated the section from Qazigund-Baramulla has already been commissioned.

"Surveys for Baramulla-Kupwra, Jammu-Poonch new lines have already been conducted. As regards Srinagar-Bandipore-Sopore-Baramulla railway line, it is stated that Srinagar has already been connected to Baramulla via Sopore through a rail link as part of the recently completed Qazigund-Baramulla new line," he said.

He also clarified that no survey has been done for the Anantnag-Pahalgam section.

Muniyappa informed the House that the Railway Ministry wants to complete all the projects by 2017-18.

Replying to another question, Muniyappa said, intensive mechanized cleaning of coaches in the coaching depots has been outsourced through professional agencies in 42 coaching depots of the Railways.

"Limited mechanized cleaning attention to identified trains during their scheduled stoppage enroute has also been outsourced at nominated 27 Clean Train Stations," he said.

Muniyappa also informed the House that existing Railway Staff deployed for cleaning activities in coaches have not been and shall not be affected at all by the measures as above. These initiatives are primarily to enhance the levels of cleanliness and hygiene in trains. (ANI)