"A 114-year-old dream of connecting the Kashmir Valley with the Jammu region by constructing a 17.729 km railway line, including 11.215 km long Pir Punjal tunnel, has been realised," IRCON director (Works) Hitesh Khanna told reporters.
The project will be opened for the public in March, 2013 after trial runs. It will provide all-weather connectivity with significantly reduced travel time.
"The total distance between Banihal in Jammu region to Qazigund in Kashmir valley would then be covered in approximately 20-25 minutes," Khanna said.
IRCON was involved in the project, including building of the tunnel, also called the T-80 tunnel, which is the country's longest transportation tunnel. The project began in August, 2005.
The tunnel will be equipped with CCTV cameras for surveillance, sensors for detection of obnoxious gases, linear fire alarm system, tunnel Radio system, public address system, smoke detectors, escape route signage and emergency telephone.
The railway track from Qazigund to Baramulla in Kashmir was completed and handed over in October, 2009.
The Banihal-Qazigund rail link is part of the key Udhampur Srinagar Baramulla Railway Link project.
