The trial run of the rail link connecting Qazigund and Banihal which was disrupted yesterday by the local residents was conducted today successfully by the railway authorities. Northern Railways today made history as the first train chugged through India's longest railway tunnel through the Pir Panjal mountain range, connecting Kashmir valley to Banihal town on Srinagar-Jammu National Highway. The train on a trial run, arrived at Banihal station from Qazigund in Anantnag district of Kashmir, was witnessed by hundreds of local residents of this highway town. Read more
A day after angry villagers in south Kashmir's Anantnag blocked the trial run of a train through India's longest 11.21-km tunnel linking Qazigund to Banihal demanding halts at Hillad village in Qazigund, the railways carried out the first test run on Friday. Read more
The northern railways on Friday opened India's longest railway tunnel piercing through the Pir Panjal range in Jammu & Kashmir. The tunnel is part of the ambitious Udhampur - Srinagar - Baramulla rail link project of Northern Railways. At 10.96km long, the Pir Panjal Railway Tunnel is India's longest and Asia's 2nd longest tunnel, aimed at reducing the travel distance between Quazigund and Banihal to only 11 km and providing a hassle-free travel up to Baramulla. Read more