Title - Rail projects in Himachal Pradesh to be expedited

Railways have decided to expedite projects involving laying of broad gauge line in Himachal Pradesh in close coordination with the state government.

The projects include Bhanupalli-Bilaspur-Beri new line, Chandigarh-Baddi new line and completion of Nagladam-Talwara new line to connect to Mukerian and to provide alternative line to Pathankot through Sirhind-Nangaldam-Talwara-Mukerian route.

"It was decided to put all these projects on fast track in a high-level meeting between Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh and Railway Minister Mallikarjun Kharge recently," a senior Railway Ministry official said.

The meeting was followed by another meeting between state Chief Secretary S Roy and Railway Board Chairman Arunendra Kumar to work out details for expediting the projects.

While requesting the Railway Minister to provide adequate budgetary provision for timely completion of Nangal-Talwara broad gauge line, the Chief Minister has offered to bear 25 per cent of the total cost of the Bilaspur-Bhanupalli-Beri broad guage line and also offered free government land on the alignments.

Singh agreed to share the construction cost of the new railway line connecting Baddi in view of the upcoming industrial and commercial complexes in Baddi-Barotiwala- Nalagarh areas.