Udhampur-Baramulla rail link faces delay; inauguration pushed to July

26 Feb 2024 CW Team

The Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project, pivotal for connecting Kashmir with India via rail, confronts delays, pushing its inauguration to July due to infrastructure challenges.

Initially envisioned as a grand launch with the potential introduction of the Vande Bharat Express travelling from Udhampur to Baramulla via the iconic Chenab Bridge, the USBRL's 272 km network faces setbacks. Ongoing tunnelling work around the Chenab Bridge contributes to the delay.

While the Chenab Bridge, towering at 359 m and taller than the Eiffel Tower, stands ready, tunnelling work surrounding the bridge persists. The entire route will be operational in July, postponing the initial February deadline.

Union Railway Minister, Ashwini Vaishnaw, cited the formidable Himalayan terrain's geological complexities and hurdles in the Lok Sabha.

Recently, Prime Minister Modi inaugurated several railway projects in Jammu and Kashmir, including the 48 km railway line between Banihal-Khari-Sumber-Sangaldan and the electrified Baramulla-Srinagar-Banihal-Sangaldan section spanning 185.66 km. The inauguration also included the first electric train service in the Kashmir valley and the train service between Sangaldan and Baramulla stations.

Partial commissioning of the USBRL, notably the Banihal-Khari-Sumber-Sangaldan section, is significant, featuring the Ballast Less Track (BLT), promising enhanced travel experiences. India's longest transportation tunnel, T-50 (12.77 km), lies within the Khari-Sumber stretch.

Infrastructure Energy

12 Feb 2025

Amazon Invests in Three Wind Energy Projects in India

Amazon has announced significant investments in three wind energy projects across Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Tamil Nadu, which will generate over 379 MW of clean energy. This move underscores the company’s commitment to achieving 100% renewable energy operations.The projects, which are part of Amazon’s broader sustainability strategy, include the CleanMax Koppal project (100 MW) in Karnataka, BluPine Solapur (99 MW) in Maharashtra, and JSW Energy Dharapuram (180 MW) in Tamil Nadu. These developments are expected to help India in meeting its ambitious target of generating 50% of its electr..

ONGC Inks E&P Pact With Bp

State-owned Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited (ONGC) and bp have agreed to explore opportunities for collaboration and partnership across the energy industry in India and internationally, focusing on oil and gas exploration and production, as well as trading and extending to other energy vectors. The two companies signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) ahead of the India Energy Week. Under the terms of the MoU, bp will collaborate with ONGC to jointly explore and evaluate potential business opportunities in oil and gas projects both within India and internationally, the com..

HPCL Plans To Raise Vizag Oil Refinery Capacity By 20%

State-run Hindustan Petroleum (HPCL) plans to increase the capacity of its Vizag oil refinery in southern India by as much as 20 per cent to meet growing local fuel demand .India is raising its crude processing capacity as the world's third-largest oil importer and consumer wants to be a major global refining hub while its fuel demand is expected to continue growing for the next decade. HPCL recently expanded the capacity of the Vizag refinery to 300,000 barrels per day and is looking for a further increase. HPCL will soon start operations at the Vizag refinery's new secondary units,..