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Court raises safety concern over Katra-Banihal rail link 5/18/2015 11:51:45 PM Early Times Report Jammu, May 18: The 125-km-long Katra-Banihal section of the rail link is likely to be delayed. The Delhi high court has expressed serious concern over the design of the link saying it could pose serious threat to the safety of the passengers, if the project is executed as per the original design. The court made this observations on hearing a petition filed by Prashant Bhushan for NGO Centre For Public Interest Litigation (CPIL). The court had observed that in case of natural disturbances it could further risk the lives of the passengers. The CPIL had petitioned that railway authorities are ignoring the concerns raised by the expert committee on this design. The railways have been saying it will construct the highest bridge in the world over this and has been showcasing it to the world, as one of the engineering marvles, even before the full construction. E Sreedharan, former chief of the Delhi metro, and considered one of the finest experts on railway engineering, had also cited for an alternative alignment of this stretch. The project was declared a national project in 2002 by the then NDA government headed by former PM AB Vajpayee. Many experts had even then raised concern over the viability of the project. The railways ministry has been consistently extending the deadline of the project as many technical problems are being coming over, in this highly complicated plan, which is considered one of the complex and difficult engineering design in the world. The expert panel of the railways had also expressed concern over the flawed design which could put the lives of the passengers to the risk. The railways minister will present its view on the next hearing of the court. The expert suggest that the present alignment will be altered and it will take lot of time to make another alignment as it is highly technical and time consuming. The likely delay in the rail link, will make the state government push for the early completion of the four lanning of the Jammu-Srinagar national highway, which itself is badly affected by weather and remains cut off for days together. The court observation could make the state government push with the Centre for early completion of this road project and also with liberal financial assistance.   Share This News with Your Friends on Social Network     Comment on this Story

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