Anurag Thakur Blames State Government for Railway Delays in Himachal
Former Union Minister and Hamirpur MP Anurag Singh Thakur has raised alarm over the slow progress of key railway and infrastructure projects in Himachal Pradesh, accusing the state government of failing to cooperate with the Centre.
Quoting a written reply from the Ministry of Railways in the Lok Sabha, Thakur said delays in land acquisition, pending clearances, and the state’s inability to release its share of funds have left projects stuck and deadlines unmet.
He pointed to the Bhanupali-Bilaspur-Beri railway line, where ₹5,252 crore has already been spent, but the state’s contribution of ₹1,843 crore remains unpaid. Out of the 124 hectares of land required, only 82 hectares have been acquired, restricting construction.
Thakur also highlighted three new railway lines spanning 214 km, with a sanctioned cost of ₹17,622 crore. While 64 km is operational and ₹8,280 crore has been spent, progress remains slow. He stressed the strategic importance of the Bilaspur-Manali-Leh railway line, estimated at ₹1.31 lakh crore, which has already been marked vital by the Ministry of Defence.
According to Thakur, the Centre has both the intent and resources to complete these projects, but cooperation from the state is essential. He urged the government to release funds, speed up land acquisition, and clear administrative hurdles to avoid cost overruns.
To ensure accountability, Thakur proposed a Joint Monitoring Cell with representatives from the Centre, the state, and the Railways, meeting every fortnight to track progress. He reiterated his commitment to raising development issues and pressed the state government to act swiftly to prevent further setbacks.
