Under the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) Project, yet another milestone has been achieved with the breakthrough of 3209m long Tunnel T-1 between Katra – Reasi Stations which is the first block section of Katra – Banihal section. With this achievement, now all the tunnels are made through under USBRL Project.

Tunnel T-1 is located at the foothills of Trikuta Hills near Katra in Reasi District being constructed by Konkan Railway Corporation Ltd., for Northern Railway under the National Projects.
The Tunnel alignment cuts across the lesser Himalayas and is characterized by highly jointed and fractured dolomite. Also, a portion of about 300-350m length cuts across a major Shear Zone known as the Main Boundary Thrust (MBT). Due to the presence of shear zone coupled with high ingress of water, tunnel excavation in this stretch had been a daunting challenge.

In the beginning, the tunnelling was done adopting conventional NATM Tunnelling philosophy. However, in order to tackle the visco-elastic plastic media of Main Boundary Thrust,
the tunnel excavation methodology was switched over from NATM to I – System of Tunnelling by providing deep drainage pipes, Umbrella pipe roofing, chemical grouting, face bolting, sequential excavation with multiple drift, rigid support & shotcreting etc.

By adopting I – System of Tunnelling, the excavation of Tunnel T1 through MBT (in Heading) has been successfully completed today, thus clearing a major impediment in commissioning of the new Railway Line from Katra to Banihal. The breakthrough of this tunnel is seen as one of the biggest achievement on this National Project in making the dream of connecting Kashmir valley with rest of India a reality.

As of today still about 318m length of excavation in Benching and about 680m length of concrete lining is balance. The works are in progress round the clock at full swing to complete the balance works.(CNI) Current News of India