Vande Bharat Express set to roll between Srinagar and Jammu, Pg3

Key Highlights:

• Vande Bharat Express is set to connect Srinagar and Jammu Tawi, reducing travel time to under five hours.
• The Vande Bharat Express rake will be upgraded to a 20-car configuration from the existing eight-car setup.
• Srinagar Airport expansion project approved with an estimated cost of Rs 1,677 crore.
• The airport's passenger handling capacity will more than treble to 10 million passengers per year.

Detailed Insights:

• The extension of the Vande Bharat service to Jammu Tawi was initially scheduled for March 1 but has been temporarily put on hold.
• Currently, two Vande Bharat chair car trains operate between Katra and Srinagar, with the extension to Jammu Tawi pending due to ongoing development works.
• The extended Vande Bharat service will reduce travel time between Jammu and Srinagar to approximately four hours and 50 minutes, a significant reduction from the eight-hour road journey.
• The Srinagar Airport redevelopment project, funded by the Airports Authority of India (AAI), aims to enhance connectivity to major tourist attractions and boost economic growth.
• The new civil enclave at Srinagar Airport will cover 73.18 acres and include a state-of-the-art terminal building spanning 71,500 square meters.
• The expanded airport apron will increase aircraft parking bays from nine to 15, and a multi-level car parking facility for 1,000 cars will be constructed.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Vande Bharat Express: A semi-high-speed, electric multiple unit train operated by the Indian Railways.
• Civil Enclave: A portion of a military airport operated by the Airports Authority of India for civilian flights.
• Airport Apron: An area of an airport where aircraft are parked, unloaded or loaded, refueled, or maintained.