Title - Pir Panjal rail tunnel ready to link Valley - Kashmir Times

New Delhi, Dec 25 (Agen¬cies): Train passengers in the Kashmir Valley can soon travel up to Banihal with railways Tuesday announcing completion of the key Qazigund-Banihal section which also com¬prises the longest trans¬portation tunnel in the country built after a seven-year effort.

Opening of this section promises a new beginning for the the state as it will not only ease the transpor¬tation problem of people during winters when inclement weather forces closure of Jawahar Tunnel but will also considerably reduce the travel time between the two places.

The distance between Banihal and Qazigund, which is also one of the most treacherous stretches in the entire Kashmir rail network project, will reduce from 35 km by road to 17.729 km on train.

According to Northern Railway, trial runs have already started in the sec¬tion, which forms a vital link in the project connect¬ing Udhampur to Baram¬ulla.

"This section, construct¬ed at an expenditure of Rs 1691 crores, will be ready for opening shortly," said a senior Northern Railway official.

The highlight of the sec¬tion, which will enable commuters to travel right up to

New Delhi, Dec 25 (Agen¬cies): Train passengers in the Kashmir Valley can soon travel up to Banihal with railways Tuesday announcing completion of the key Qazigund-Banihal section which also com¬prises the longest trans¬portation tunnel in the country built after a seven-year effort.

Opening of this section promises a new beginning for the the state as it will not only ease the transpor¬tation problem of people during winters when inclement weather forces closure of Jawahar Tunnel but will also considerably reduce the travel time between the two places.

The distance between Banihal and Qazigund, which is also one of the most treacherous stretches in the entire Kashmir rail network project, will reduce from 35 km by road to 17.729 km on train.

According to Northern Railway, trial runs have already started in the sec¬tion, which forms a vital link in the project connect¬ing Udhampur to Baram¬ulla.

"This section, construct¬ed at an expenditure of Rs 1691 crores, will be ready for opening shortly," said a senior Northern Railway official.