Four new DEMU trains to be launched in J-K

Four new DEMU (Diesel Electric Multiple Unit Trains) will be launched on Thursday in Jammu and Kashmir.

Railways Minister Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu, Minister of State in Prime Minister's Office Jitendra Singh and Minister of State for Railways Manoj Sinha will launch the trains from Rail Bhawan in the national capital.

The Ministers will inaugurate the new train services at around 2 p.m. via video conferencing. Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti will simultaneously launch the new trains by showing them green flag at the Harnag Anantnag railway station in south Kashmir.

The new DEMU trains with modern facilities will go a long way in helping the people of Kashmir to travel between Banihal to Baramulla and Baramulla to Budgam.

The Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) national project has been demarcated into phased programme.

The rail line in the Kashmir Valley was constructed in a phased programme with the Railway gradually commissioning rail sections in different stages.

The first rail connection between Anantnag and Mazahama in central Kashmir's Budgam district was commissioned in October 2008.

The Railway commissioned the 11.3 km long Pir Panjal Tunnel and opened the Banihal-Qazigund railway section to public in June (26) 2013 to knit the Kashmir Valley region to the Jammu region.

The rail-link from Banihal to Katra, connecting Kashmir Valley with the rest of the country, is expected to be completed by 2020.