New Jammu Railway Division starts June 1 boosting Kashmir rail connectivity and strategic projects

The Indian Railways has officially launched the Jammu Railway Division from June 1, 2025, marking a significant development for rail connectivity and strategic infrastructure in the northern Himalayan region. This new division, the 70th in the Indian Railways network, is headquartered at Jammu Tawi and operates under the Northern Railway zone.

The formation of the Jammu Division is a landmark step, particularly for the ongoing Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project, commonly known as the Kashmir line, which aims to fully connect the Kashmir Valley with the rest of India by rail. The division covers a vast 742-kilometre route, including key sections transferred from the historic Firozpur Division.

Strategic and operational significance

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had inaugurated the Jammu Railway Division in January 2025, highlighting its strategic importance. The division oversees vital railway sections including Pathankot-Jammu-Srinagar-Baramulla, Batala-Pathankot, and the Kangra Valley narrow gauge line — the longest narrow gauge railway in India.

Vivek Kumar, the first Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) of Jammu Division, emphasised the division’s critical role not only in improving connectivity but also in supporting defence logistics. Given the challenging terrain and landslide-prone areas, a dedicated division headquartered close to the region facilitates better project monitoring and faster decision-making.

Enhancing rail infrastructure and passenger services

The new division is expected to improve passenger amenities, increase freight handling capacity, and manage eleven important goods sheds that transport essentials like food grains, petroleum, cement, coal, and seasonal fruits. Recently, the division successfully transported 25 tonnes of cherries from Katra to Mumbai by rail, reducing delivery time from several days by road to just 30 hours, preventing spoilage and benefiting farmers.

Manpower is being increased with key appointments and administrative setups completed to ensure smooth functioning. The Jammu Division will cater to the transportation needs of Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, and parts of Punjab.

Future rail expansion and projects

Indian Railways is pushing forward with multiple new rail projects in the region, including surveys for new lines such as Baramulla-Uri, Sopore-Kupwara, Anantnag-Pahalgam, Avantipore-Shopian, and doubling of Banihal-Baramulla line. A major proposed project between Jammu and Poonch via Akhnur and Rajauri was surveyed but found to have low traffic potential.

These expansions are expected to strengthen rail connectivity to remote border areas, with long-term plans to extend lines to Leh in Ladakh, further enhancing strategic mobility and regional development

The Upcoming IPOs in this week and coming weeks are Ganga Bath Fittings, Victory Electric Vehicles International, Wagons Learning.

The Current active IPO are 3B Films

Start your Stock Market Journey and Apply in IPO by Opening Free Demat Account in Choice Broking FinX.

Join our Trading with CA Abhay Telegram Channel for regular Stock Market Trading and Investment Calls by CA Abhay Varn - SEBI Registered Research Analyst.