RailEnquiry

SHIMLA: Toy train rides on Kalka-Shimla and Pathankot-Jogindernagar tracks are travellers' delight. Had the British not thought of constructing rail lines in hills, Himachal Pradesh perhaps would not have ever been able to get the facility as since Independence only 44km of new rail line has been laid in the state. When it comes to laying tracks, the state has always been ignored. Manali-Leh rail project which has been declared unviable by planning commission has now become a poll issue.While Congress manifesto released on Friday claimed that Himachal occupies a special place in the heart of Congress leadership and Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru was known for his love for Himachal and development of hills, opposition parties have raised questions over this claim. People are now asking if Congress was so concerned about the state, then why not Manali-Leh rail project was taken up on priority. Congress in its manifesto though has promised for early and time-bound completion of already announced rail projects at Bhanupalli, Bilaspur, Paonta Sahib-Dehradun. Besides it has promised construction of Baddi-Chandigarh fast rail corridor on priority.When Bilaspur-Manali-Leh rail line was announced there was a hope to boost tourism besides strategic benefit but now this ambitious plan has almost been shelved with planning commission describing this 498km track as unviable."Like any other state, Himachal Pradesh, too, had needed expansion of rail lines on priority. But ironically independence the state has only got 44km new rail line. Manali-Leh rail project is not only of strategic importance but it would also boost tourism in Himalayan region, still the Congress-led UPA government is not serious about it. On the other hand, China has expanded rail and air connectivity on its side," said Himachal Pradesh chief minister Prem Kumar Dhumal.

Shimla deputy mayor and CPM candidate from Shimla (urban) seat Tikender Panwar said Himachal being in the periphery has never been the focus of Congress. He claimed that in 1950s people of tribal Lahaul-Spiti fed up with constant neglect on developmental front had given the slogan of "Peking is near than Delhi" following which the Congress government in Centre started constructing roads. Panwar said Manali-Leh rail is of strategic importance and Union government should not ignore it.

Dinesh Kumar, a resident of Goshal village of Lahaul, said coming rail to Lahaul would not only boost tourism, but would also ensure timely supply of essential commodities to armed forces deployed in Ladakh region. Rajesh Kumar of Udaipur village said during Kargil war, entire supply was depended on trucks which consumed lot of time. "Rail line is the need of hour that would usher in new era of development right from Manali to Leh," he added.

Congress is silent on Manali-Leh rail project and BJP is raising this issue for its political benefit, the proposed Rs 414 crore greater Leh master plan, for next 30 years, has already defined the land use for future projects, including proposed sites for the construction of railway stations and tracks in the areas for the proposed Bilaspur-Manali-Leh rail line.