Include Himachal's Rail Projects in Railway Budget 2009-10 :Prof. Prem Kumar Dhumal

June 22, 2009 : Prof. Prem Kumar Dhumal, Chief Minister has urged Union Railway Minister Ms. Mamta Banerjee to make provision for construction of Bhanupalli-Bilaspur-Beri Broadgauge Rail line, Ghanauli-Baddi Rail Line, Nangal-Talwara Rail line and Bilaspur-Mandi-Manali-Leh/Ladakh Broadgauge Rail line in the Union Budget for the year 2009-10 to do the justice with Himachal Pradesh as it had been neglected in the expansion of rail network in last 62 years after independence.In a letter written to Ms. Mamta Banerjee, Prof. Prem Kumar Dhumal said that Bhanupalli-Bilaspur-Beri Rail Line was announced for construction in Railway Budget for 2008-09. The estimated cost of this rail line is Rs. 1046 crore and for a section of first 20 km, the Railways have approved of Rs. 350.33 crore. Sufficient funds may please be provided by the Railways in the Rail Budget for 2009-10, so that work starts quickly on this sanctioned project, he added.

Referring to construction of Chandigarh-Baddi, broad gauge rail line, Prof. Prem Kumar Dhumal said that it was a sanctioned project in the Rail Budget for the year 2007-08 but Union Territory Chandigarh Administration expressed its reservation in providing of land for this purpose on the ground that the surveyed land had already been allotted for other developmental activities. Now to connect the industrial area of Baddi, Railway has given an alternative proposal to provide a link from Ghanauli in District Ropar, Punjab. He requested that this project be fast tracked by provision of sufficient funds so that rail connectivity is provided to our only major industrial area.

Prof. Prem Kumar Dhumal said that Nangal-Talwara rail line was started almost thirty years ago, but is still incomplete. He requested to provide sufficient funds so that the project is completed within two years now.

Chief Minister said that the State Government was pursuing a proposal to connect the hinterland and border area of Leh-Ladakh by providing a Broad Gauge rail line. The technical survey for the construction of Bilaspur-Mandi-Manali-Leh/Ladakh Broad Gauge rail line is being undertaken by the Railways. The construction of this rail line would facilitate the ferrying of essential items to the border area apart form ensuring strategic supplies to our armed forces. It will also open the unexplored Himachal, Leh and Ladakh to the outside would giving a tremendous boost to tourism for the region's economy. Strategically this is the most important rail line with the Indian Army was also pursuing. He said that paramount national interest would be served by this project. Chief Minister said that he was hopeful that this would figure in the Rail Budget of 2009-10.

By :  News Team