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Reshmi R Dasgupta, ET Bureau
The 11-km-long tunnel across the treacherous Pir Panjal mountain range on the Banihal-Qazigund railway line in Jammu and Kashmir, is the longest such transportation passage in India and second longest in Asia.
But, Kashmir's new railway is not merely an engineering feat, but a political, economic and diplomatic one too. We take a look at how the railway men weathered every obstacle & went beyond the call of duty to construct the line and the tunnel:
Clik here to view.
Reshmi R Dasgupta, ET Bureau The 11-km-long tunnel across the treacherous Pir Panjal mountain range on the Banihal-Qazigund railway line in Jammu and Kashmir, is the longest such transportation passage in India and second longest in Asia.
But, Kashmir's new railway is not merely an engineering feat, but a political, economic and diplomatic one too. We take a look at how the railway men weathered every obstacle & went beyond the call of duty to construct the line and the tunnel:
Back in 2009, the new tunnel was then but a hole in the Pir Panjal range beyond a station called Qazigund, but it held such promise.
For it would finally link the rest of India's venerable railway system — that began back in 1853, a mere half century after the first public railway opened in Britain — to the Kashmir Valley's very first line, over 150 years later
For it would finally link the rest of India's venerable railway system — that began back in 1853, a mere half century after the first public railway opened in Britain — to the Kashmir Valley's very first line, over 150 years later
A lot has been said about the Konkan Railway, which winds its way through the scenic Western Ghats, beside the Arabian Sea. It is truly a great feat of engineering.
As indeed is the new Banihal Tunnel, which, at 11.2km is India's longest railway tunnel — about 9km longer than the 56-year-old and mostly snow-bound Jawahar road tunnel, 440m above it.
But making the Kashmir Railway meant much more. For it entailed building lines and bridges not only in the Valley but also to its people.
It was thus not only an engineering achievement but a political, economic and diplomatic one too. The men who built it didn't merely have to deal with the terrain but also negotiate issues that still confound political leaderships.
Practically every section of the line also demonstrates the great sensitivity on the part of the railway teams who could have just retreated behind their professional hardhats.
But they didn't. They swapped it ever so often for the bareheaded empathy and adaptability of social workers.
As indeed is the new Banihal Tunnel, which, at 11.2km is India's longest railway tunnel — about 9km longer than the 56-year-old and mostly snow-bound Jawahar road tunnel, 440m above it.
But making the Kashmir Railway meant much more. For it entailed building lines and bridges not only in the Valley but also to its people.
It was thus not only an engineering achievement but a political, economic and diplomatic one too. The men who built it didn't merely have to deal with the terrain but also negotiate issues that still confound political leaderships.
Practically every section of the line also demonstrates the great sensitivity on the part of the railway teams who could have just retreated behind their professional hardhats.
But they didn't. They swapped it ever so often for the bareheaded empathy and adaptability of social workers.
