Former CE USBRL project raises alarm over safety concerns on Katra-Banihal rail link

Posted by admin_kas on 2025-01-23 14:02:19 |

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Srinagar, Jan 23: In a surprising move, the former Chief Engineer of the much hyped USBRL Project has raised an alarm over the safety concerns of the passengers citing deficiencies in safety evaluation.

The former Chief Engineer Alok Kumar Verma has written a letter to the Railway Board and accused the Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS) of gross misconduct and negligence while approving the section for passenger services.

Former CE has demanded urgent action and accountability for these deficiencies while pointing out major safety lapses, including superficial load testing, inadequate fire safety, and the failure to address critical disaster management measures.

“After three detailed letters to the Minister of Railways, Ashwini Vaishnaw, addressing critical safety, cost, and operational concerns surrounding the Katra-Banihal rail link under the USBRL Project, I have finally received a response—albeit a feeble one. On January 17, 2025, the Principal Chief Engineer of Northern Railway informed me that officers from the Open Line and Construction (USBRL Project) wish to discuss these matters. While I appreciate this initiative, it is grossly insufficient given the gravity of the issues, which demand an immediate and comprehensive review by the Railway Board itself,” reads the letter from Alok Kumar Verma addressed to Naveen Gulati, Member (Infrastructure) Railway Board.

 In his letter, Verma has said that CRS’s actions regarding approving the Katra-Reasi section for public passenger services reflects gross misconduct and may even amount to criminal negligence.

Verma has pointed out several “irregularities” highlighting superficial load testing of the Anji Khad Bridge, neglect of reinforced High Cut-Slope Stability, inadequate Fire Safety measures in trains and lack of recommendations for Fire Safety in tunnels.

“The CRS report does not evaluate or recommend essential fire safety features for long tunnels, such as ventilation systems, emergency escape routes, fireproof linings, sprinkler systems, or fire-resistant electrical cables, which are dealt with in the above Task Force report. This omission is especially alarming given the complexity and length of the tunnels in this project,” the letter reads. (KDC)