Indian Railways sanctions Katra slope stabilisation, Kiul–Jhajha third line under safety push.

Indian Railways has approved critical slope stabilisation, tunnel rehabilitation and bridge protection works on the Jammu–Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra section of the Northern Railway at a cost of ₹238 crore, aiming to strengthen safety and resilience on one of the country’s most challenging rail routes.

The approved works include slope stabilisation, rehabilitation measures, treatment of tunnel seepage issues, bridge protection works and other safety interventions at vulnerable locations along the Katra section.

Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said the initiative reflects the government’s commitment to ensuring

safe and reliable connectivity in difficult terrain. He noted that the works follow a detailed assessment of cuttings, bridges and tunnels, and are designed to enhance the long-term safety and operational reliability of the strategically important route.

The Jammu–Katra section has historically faced engineering and operational challenges due to steep terrain, adverse geological conditions and extreme weather events. Despite this, Indian Railways has continued to strengthen infrastructure through phased upgrades, with the latest sanctions expected to further improve resilience and safety for the millions of passengers using the route annually.

In a separate development, Indian Railways also approved the Kiul–Jhajha third line project, a 54-km expansion costing ₹962 crore, aimed at increasing capacity and improving operational efficiency on the high-density Howrah–Delhi corridor.

Vaishnaw said the project will significantly enhance line capacity, reduce congestion and improve punctuality and operational flexibility for both passenger and freight trains. He added that the additional infrastructure will support industrial growth and strengthen trade connectivity across Eastern and Northern India.

The existing double-line section between Kiul and Jhajha is currently operating beyond optimal capacity, with traffic expected to grow further in the coming years, necessitating the augmentation. The third line is expected to ease bottlenecks, improve freight movement efficiency and strengthen connectivity between Patna and Kolkata, while also supporting logistics hubs across the region.