A Feat of Indian Engineering

A train journey can be an incredibly liberating and exciting experience. One can pass time by reading or admiring the landscape for hours or socialize and chat with the co-passengers or even make friends for life.

Railways were introduced by the British in India in 1853, the first railway line being between Victoria Terminus and Thane and, the Indians have expanded it far and wide since 1947 and made it  one of the largest railway networks in the world, connecting even the remote corners of India. The feat was achieved by the Indian Railway team of engineers planning and creating new lines, bridges, via ducts, stations, etc.

Apart from laying new lines and modernizing the railways, some years ago the Indian engineers designed, planned and executed Konkan railway thereby bringing Konkan into the much in demand coastal railway line. It has attracted attention of the world and British in particular, before independence, who had once planned and later given up the idea of this coastal railway line mainly because of the topography, sub soil and terrain. The Indian engineers overcame these challenges and once again proved that it could be done with some innovative ideas. The Konkan railway serves the coastal towns and cities of Konkan region of Maharastra, Goa, Karnataka and Malabar coast of Kerala; attracting a lot of local and foreign tourists to these states, tourist sites and beaches. They are amazed at the scenery and greenery, especially during monsoons. Full credit should go to the Indian engineers and their resolve.

And once again the Indian Railways and Indian engineers have almost done the impossible by constructing the railway line from Jammu to Vaishnodevi Katra in the state of Jammu & Kashmir. Recently the Indian PM N Modi inaugurated the new line. It is a marvelous piece of engineering. Those who have got a chance to see it, give a thumbs up to Indian engineering. Some say the newly built station is as good as an airport.

The facility at Katra station is one of the best in the country, the three platforms itself can accomodate 26 coach trains. the first floor has plush accomodation facilities matching star hotels with cafetaria by IRCTC.

Now travelling by train to Katra, the base camp of Vaishno Devi shrine has become a reality as the railways have completed the construction work on this stretch of the ambitious Kashmir rail link project. The opening of the 25 km Udampur-Katra section is a boon to travellers and pilgrims coming from Jammu to the famous shrine.

The below given photographs will tell you much more.

Tunnel

Tracks on the bridge

Through the via duct

The route passes the inhospitable terrain making it an extremely challenging engineering project. The 292-km Udampur-Katra-Quazikund-Baramulla rain link is vital for the Kashmir valley as it aims at boosting economic prosperity of the region.


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Picture Post:

The ancient & famous temple, Jagannath Puri templ in
Odisha, India.

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