Jammu, May 26:
In a major relief for thousands of daily commuters, tourists, and logistics operators, Indian Railways is on the verge of restoring full dual-track operations on the vital rail artery connecting Jammu and Kashmir with the rest of the country.
The extensive restoration work on Railway Bridge No. 17, located on the busy Kathua-Madhopur rail section, is in its final stages. According to an official press release issued by Raghvender Singh, Public Relations Inspector for the Jammu Division of Northern Railway, normal train movements on both tracks will officially resume in June following final interlocking work scheduled for May 31, 2026.
Overcoming Technical Hurdles to Double Track Capacity
For weeks, train operations on this strategically vital route had been bottlenecked. Due to urgent repair and strengthening work on the bridge, the “Down” side track had to be completely closed, forcing all rail traffic to squeeze through a single “Up” side track. This single-line operation naturally led to scheduling constraints and several high-profile train cancellations.
Northern Railway engineers worked around the clock, battling technical challenges to ensure the bridge was not just repaired, but made structurally stronger than before. With both the Up and Down lines declared fit for service, the region is set to see significantly smoother, more efficient, and safer rail traffic.
