PIR PANJAL TRAIN TUNNEL AND BANIHAAL RAILWAY STATION IS COMPLETE NOW.
PHOTO Autar Mota
THE BANIHAAL TUNNEL AND KASHMIR
RAIL PROJECT
I was in Banihal recently. Banihal
pass that separates Kashmir from Plains of the country falls in PIR PANJAL
mountain range .There is a town below the pass once
you cross it from kashmir valley and move towards Jammu . This town located at
the base of the pass is also known as Banihal. Prior to execution of Kashmir
Rail Project , Banihal used to be a sleepy town on Jammu - Srinagar National
highway . Vehicles going to Srinagar or coming from srinagar would halt here to
enable passengers to have tea or snacks. Toll Tax and State Excise Duty had
also to be paid over here previously.
Kashmiri is the main spoken language of the town. I
came across a handful of Thakkar Rajputs and Gadhies living around
RAMSOO which is the first major village on BANIHAAL
to JAMMU highway. I am informed by some reliable persons of the town
that Sh Hamid Ullah Khan IAS Ex Chief Secretary and Ex Advisor to Governor of
J&K hails from Neel Chamalvaas village which falls in close
proximity to Banihaal Town. Falling
under newly Created Ramban District ,Banihal is about 90 kms srinagar and about
210 kms from Jammu.
I shall also say something about the prestigious
Kashmir Rail project now. Now that Jammu Udhampur Rail link is since
operational ( since 2005), Kashmir Rail Project actually means a
train link between Udhampur and Baramulla. Indian Railways is supervising the
25 Kms Track from Udhampur to Katra while KONKAN RAILWAYS is
laying the track from katra to Laole Sanghaldhan Section (90 km) and
IRCON is executing this work from Laole Sanghaldhan to
Baramulla. This is how three organizations are supervising this prestigious
Kashmir Rail Project . Sanagaldhaan is approachable from RAMBAN as well as from
Reasi near katra . Banihal to Udhampur segment is perhaps the toughest part of
this Project in terms of Track alignment , Gradient , hills , Mighty Chenab
river ,streams, Landslide Zones and poor Road connectivity for movement of men
and material. The greatest engineering challenge involved is the crossing of
the Chenab river by a bridge 1,315-metre-long and 359 metres above the river
bed, . The Chenab Bridge will be the highest railway structure of its kind in
the world and Certainly 35 m higher than the tip of the Eiffel Tower
in Paris. Nonetheless Challenge is a challenge .HCC, IRCON and KONKAN Railways
have proved their skill and expertise not only in India but also in various
countries of Asia and Africa .Kudos to the Dedicated Teams
of IRCON and HCC for making the impossible to happen
gradually in this area .
“Look Mr Mota , We are country’s premier
company in the construction and Infrastructure segment. Ours is a different
story of commitment and dedication. A sense of creating wealth for the nation.
That is what the founders of this company always desired. The company is dream
of Seth Walchand Hirachand of Sholapur in Maharashtra
who was a pioneer in building ships and
aircrafts in the country . He also started the Premier Automobiles and
an
insurance company. Seth Walchand was touched by Gandhi ji’s Satygraha
and the
movement for country’s independence . He was also started first National
News Agency in the country . SUCH DEDICATED MEN CREATE WEALTH
AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR THEIR COUNTRY MEN.
And Believe me, All of us have
been working round the clock . It was a National Task entrusted to us . Most of
us had sleepless nights . For sure one has to miss the comfort of Home cooked
food , comfort of being in your family and friends .Such projects demand time ,
attention and focus . The mind moves on a single Track . For a Project Manager
, the Mission
is to see the light from the other side of the Tunnel. I am more than happy
that we did it . For years to come the people of the country and the state
shall remember HCC for executing this 11 km long Dream project called PIR
PANJAL TUNNEL .”
Said Mr Sharnappa Yalal Young
Project Manager HINDUSTAN CONSTRUCTION COMPANY in his office located at Village
Nogaam In Banihaal.
HCC
has built the Pir Panjal Tunnel near village Cheril in
Banihal with an exit near lower Munda on the other side .The tunnel is
ready As We went inside the Tunnel, cold
winds coming from Kashmir valley
from the valley side opening of the Tunnel tried to sweep us away .The
public
address system , the lights , 38 Fire fighting stations , 5 Electric
substations
,28 Massive Exhaust Fans, 190 CCTVs and concealed water drainage system
makes
you believe that the Tunnel is a real State of Art Project accomplished
by HCC
and IRCON. The tunnel has also been provided with two
emergency helipads on either sides
. This new Tunnel shall be about 8 metres wide having single Rail Track
and a Path for Movement of Rescue vehicles during any eventuality . The
Tunnel has been constructed using the New Austrian Tunneling
method or NATM. This New Rail Tunnel is about 11Kms in length and has
been completed.. The digging teams from Both sides was made
possible with the use of GPRS , Digital mapping and NATM . Rock
cutting Machines ,Steel Ribs, heavy pumps to drain water out of the
tunnel and
RCC spraying machines were put to use almost round the clock inside
the Tunnel.. A massive Station complex is nearing completion near
Banihal Town. The economy of the town is undergoing a rapid change .
Government
has also set up a Banihal Development Authority
This new tunnel shall be Asia’s third longest Tunnel ( 11.3Kms ) and an engineering marvel. The tunnel has been completed at a cost of rupees 900 crores approx. in 7 years and is now scheduled for Regular traffic very shortly .
..
I am informed that Land prices have shot up to Rs 20 to 30 lakhs a kanal in this 5 Kms by 1 Km Picturesque valley surrounded by snow capped hills .I am informed by IRCON officials that once every thing settles down this section of the train journey shall be the loveliest and enjoyable and comparable to the Switzerland Train Journey. The train is bound to move through snow clad hills with thick snow carpet spread on earth during winter season. Not far off. Just wait to ride Baramulla - Banihal .
Can
We enjoy Jammu – Srinagar train journey in our lifetime? I do not know .The
toughest execution work involving laying of tracks , digging of Tunnels and
construction of bridges from Banihaal to Reasi is a real challenge to HCC ,
IRCON and other agencies involved in the execution of the jammu- Srinagar Rail
Link .. I end this post with four lines from a Gazal of Parveen Shakir ..
Mainay
jiss lamhe ko poojaa hai ussay Bas ek baar
Khwaab
ban kar teri Aankhon Mein utarataa dekhuun
Tuu
Meraa kuchh nahin lagataa hai magar jaan-e-hayaat
Jaanay
kyon tere liye dil ko Dhadaktaa dekhuun….
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