Rly asks pvt company to conduct feasibility survey of HP project
Railways have asked a private company to carry out a feasibility survey of broad gauging Pathankot-Jogindernagar line upto Leh.
By PTI |
PALAMPUR: Railways have asked a private company to carry out a feasibility survey of broad gauging Pathankot-Jogindernagar line upto Leh, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal said on Friday.
The development comes in the wake of Himachal Pradesh government's demand of broadgauging the route.
"A private company has been entrusted by the Railways to survey the project," Dhumal told PTI after laying foundation of a road bridge here in Kangra district.
Estimated at the cost of about Rs 65,000 crore, the project would be of great importance considering its implications on country's security and tourism, he said.
With the centre reluctant to continue on the project earlier on the grounds that it was economically inviable, Dhumal had argued that it was strategically significant for India in view of China expanding its Railway line up to the borders.
He recently pitched for the project with President Pratibha Patil during her Shimla tour and also to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
The development comes in the wake of Himachal Pradesh government's demand of broadgauging the route.
"A private company has been entrusted by the Railways to survey the project," Dhumal told PTI after laying foundation of a road bridge here in Kangra district.
Estimated at the cost of about Rs 65,000 crore, the project would be of great importance considering its implications on country's security and tourism, he said.
With the centre reluctant to continue on the project earlier on the grounds that it was economically inviable, Dhumal had argued that it was strategically significant for India in view of China expanding its Railway line up to the borders.
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Dhumal said the state Finance Commissioner Arvind Mehta had met Railway authorities in Delhi on June 23 in which it was decided to assign the survey work to a private company. He recently pitched for the project with President Pratibha Patil during her Shimla tour and also to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
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