Trial run on this section was successfully done on December 28 last year, and since then ballast trains are running on regular basis.
"The inspection of CRS is scheduled for the next week and we are expecting the line to open in the last of this month," a senior Northern Railway official said.
The opening of Banihal-Qazigund railway section will connect Jammu with the Kashmir Valley. This section will have two main railway stations - Banihal in Jammu division and Qazigund in Kashmir division. In addition to these stations, a halt station is also being provided at Hillar village in Anantnag district for the convenience of local public.
Last winter, one-way vehicular movement was resorted to between Jammu and Srinagar on national highway. There were sudden closures for almost four months from December 2012 to March this year due to heavy snowfall and slippery conditions.
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"All these problems will be reduced to a large extent by running of train services between Banihal-Qazigund, the official said, adding that "it will be a cheaper, faster and dependable mode of transport for the people."
With the operation of the line, the distance between Banihal and Qazigund will be reduced from 35 km to 17 kms. The 18 km-long Banihal-Qazigund section passing through a 11 km long tunnel has been constructed with a total expenditure of Rs 1,691 crore.