India: Railroad to Kashmir Close to Completion

Indian Railways is getting closer to finishing work on a new rail line connecting Indian-controlled Kashmir to the rest of India.

Officials say the line could bring big changes to the area. They say it will permit faster movement of people, goods, and security workers.

Indian-controlled Kashmir shares a border with India's two main competitors, Pakistan and China.

Darshana Jardosh is India's minister of state for railways. During a visit to check on progress on the line, she said the railway network is important for security.

Officials say the 272-kilometer Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project involves highly advanced engineering knowledge. The line runs through a mountainous area.

Irfan Mushtaq, a contractor¹ for Konkan Railways, is building a railway station at Reasi, near the southern end of the line. He told VOA that it had been one of the most challenging projects he has ever worked on because of the terrain², lack of skilled laborers³ and bad weather.

"We have worked day and night for this project to complete. This project will benefit the locals of Reasi and the people of the region as a whole," he said.

The USBRL was declared a "national project" in 2002.

Officials say the line will contain the world's highest rail bridge, 38 tunnels and 931 bridges. The Chenab Bridge crosses the Chenab River at a height of 366 meters. The tunnels will have a combined length of 119 kilometers. The system will include the two longest transportation tunnels in India at 12.75 and 11.2 kilometers.

The project also includes the Anji Khad Bridge, Indian Railway's first cable-supported rail bridge. The 750-meter bridge will cross high above the Anji Khad River. The part supported by cables will be 473 meters long.

India created a rail connection to Jammu after gaining independence from British rule in 1947. The first passenger train arrived at Jammu station in December 1972. But it has taken another 50 years for Indian Railways to build the rail line through to the Kashmir Valley.

Devendra Sharma is a site engineer with the company Afcons Infrastructure⁴ Ltd. It has been building a bridge at Reasi since 2016. He praised the jobs created by the project and noted⁵ that the company hires local workers.

"On average, we employed 700-800 laborers daily to complete this bridge, which we expect to complete by the end of May," Sharma said.

Officials say the railway line will also increase tourism in the region and give local farmers access to a larger market.

However, some Kashmiris are concerned the project could harm the area. It currently⁶ is India's only Muslim majority region. Some local Muslims worry that the rail line could change that.

Some also oppose the increased military presence in the area that is expected as a result of the project.

Words in This Story

advanced -adj. having a high level of skill or difficulty

challenging -adj. difficult to do

region -n. a geographic⁷ area

cable -n. a kind of strong, think wire or rope, often used to support of hang heavy objects

tourism -n. the business and activities related to travel

1 contractor   

n.订约人，承包人，收缩肌

参考例句：

• The Tokyo contractor was asked to kick $ 6000 back as commission.那个东京的承包商被要求退还6000美元作为佣金。
• The style of house the contractor builds depends partly on the lay of the land.承包商所建房屋的式样，有几分要看地势而定。

2 terrain   

n.地面，地形，地图

参考例句：

• He had made a detailed study of the terrain.他对地形作了缜密的研究。
• He knows the terrain of this locality like the back of his hand.他对这一带的地形了如指掌。

3 laborers   

n.体力劳动者，工人( laborer的名词复数 )；（熟练工人的）辅助工

参考例句：

• Laborers were trained to handle 50-ton compactors and giant cranes. 工人们接受操作五十吨压土机和巨型起重机的训练。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• Wage-labour rests exclusively on competition between the laborers. 雇佣劳动完全是建立在工人的自相竞争之上的。 来自英汉非文学 - 共产党宣言

4 infrastructure   

n.下部构造，下部组织，基础结构，基础设施

参考例句：

• We should step up the development of infrastructure for research.加强科学基础设施建设。
• We should strengthen cultural infrastructure and boost various types of popular culture.加强文化基础设施建设，发展各类群众文化。

5 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

6 currently   

adv.通常地，普遍地，当前

参考例句：

• Currently it is not possible to reconcile this conflicting evidence.当前还未有可能去解释这一矛盾的例证。
• Our contracts are currently under review.我们的合同正在复查。

7 geographic   

adj.地理学的，地理的

参考例句：

• The city's success owes much to its geographic position. 这座城市的成功很大程度上归功于它的地理位置。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Environmental problems pay no heed to these geographic lines. 环境问题并不理会这些地理界限。 来自英汉非文学 - 环境法 - 环境法