State government agrees to cope-up 50% of expenditure for Railway expansion in Himachal: Vir Bhadra

Dharamsala, October 31, 2013: The Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh Vir Bhadra Singh said that state government has agreed to cope-up the 50% of the expenditure for the Railway expansion in the state. He said, “This decision was taken so that the state can get its desired share of rail expansion soon.”

He added the state government wants that like Kalka –Shimla Rail, the Kangra valley narrow rail should also be given a national heritage status and it may run as usual on Pathankot –Jogindernagar link. But some new rail links must be provided to this hill state to give it a boost in development.

Talking to media at Dharamsala on Thursday Vir Bhadra Singh said, “ Bhanupalli (near Nangal ) to Bilaspur in Himachal rail link is already okayed by rail ministry, which shall be further extended to Mandi and Manali for Leh. “We wish that this link from Mandi also be given a line to Pathankot via Palampur”, he said, adding the broad-gauge link of Nangal-Mukerian has already reached Amb in Una district, from here a line could go to Kangra via Nadoun to join Mandi –Pathankot link, which will  cover the whole central area of Himachal.” CM said that the work on Amb –Mukerian section should also be speeded up, which is at a snail pace at the moment.

He said, “There is impale scope to expand Gaggal airport of Dharamsala upto Ansoli and beyond by covering the rivulet to make it viable for landing of Jet airplanes here. We shall help center to give land if required.” Singh said that in past too his government constructed the Gaggal and Shimla airport to hand them over to Airport Authority of India, these were not extended a feet till then. He said if the air strip of Gaggal is expanded and large plane start landing here the traffic shall increase considerable and air fare will go down to suit the people of area. www.cityairnews.com

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