ABSTRACT
India is developing its railway network, linking the peripheral regions to the national network. In Kashmir, a new line extends from Jammu, to Srinagar and Baramulla (USBRL), in Kashmir, 270 km long: 50% is underground with 4 tunnels longer than 10 km. Indian Government assigned the general project management to IRCON, a subsidiary of the national railway ministry. Long of 10ʹ185 m, T-48 is the third longest railway tunnel in India, after T-80 and T-49 on the same line. It is single lane with lateral escape tunnel (excavation 53-74 resp. 27-34 m2). Excavated D&B through carbonaceous and quarzitic phyllite, it has a maximum overburden of 1ʹ150 m. At present 45% of the excavation is done. Major difficulties are the underground works execution and the logistics. The initial contractor was terminated. A new contract was awarded after 6 months. Completion is now foreseen end 2020 (3 years delay).
