Title - Rishikesh-Karnprayag rail link project to take off soon

Dehradun  : The Last Field Survey for much awaited rail link between Rishikesh and Karnprayag will be completed in coming two months and the Rail Vikas Nigam Limited will open tender for the same on June 29.Uttarakhand Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna today assured all possible support from the State Government for the project observing that the proposed railway project would bring in prosperity in the hill areas and generate employment opportunities.Mr Bahuguna issued direction to constitute Committee to be chaired by Chief Secretary and Secretary Transport, Secretary Revenue and Secretary Forest as its Members to maintain coordination between the state government and Rail Vikas Nigam Limited.The Chief Minister, chairing the meeting of Rishikesh-Karnprayag rail link here, directed the officers concerned to make available the blueprint of the project from officers of Railway Department and ask them about their expectations from the State Government. Director General RVNL Satish Agnihotri said the estimated budget of the 125.09 km long Rishikesh-Karnprayag Project was Rs 4295.3 crore. He said experienced and capable persons had been included in this mega project and modern technologies and methods would be used.He revealed that very high resolution stereo satellite imagery has been purchased from National Remote Sensing Centre, Hyderabad.Mr Agnihotri said this project would pass through Dehradun, Tehri, Pauri and Chamoli districts and main railway stations would be at Rishikesh, Karnprayag, Srinagar, Rudraprayag and Devprayag. There would be total 128 bridges including 45 large and 83 small one, while, total number of tunnels would be 81.THE RVNL DG said local talents would be given preference for which a campus interview would be conducted.