Delay in completion of railway projects in Himachal due to non-cooperation of Congress govt: Anurag
Himachal Pradesh: Former Union Minister and Hamirpur Lok Sabha MP Shri Anurag Singh Thakur, through an unstarred question in the Lok Sabha today, raised serious concerns over the long delays in several key railway and infrastructure projects affecting Himachal Pradesh due to the lack of cooperation from the state government. In its written reply to the Lok Sabha, the Ministry of Railways stated that the lack of timely cooperation and non-fulfillment of commitments by the Himachal Pradesh government is the reason for the stalling of project work and non-completion of the stipulated timelines.
Mr. Anurag Singh Thakur said, “I have always strived to expand railway services and bring new rail projects to Himachal. Due to the indifference of the Congress government in Himachal Pradesh, the progress of many railway projects of strategic importance has slowed. In response to my question in Parliament regarding railways in Himachal, the Ministry stated that ₹5,252 crore has been spent so far on the Bhanupali-Bilaspur-Beri new line – which was approved on a cost-sharing basis. The State’s outstanding share of ₹1,843 crore remains pending, holding up the remaining work. The Ministry also stated that out of the 124.02 hectares of land required for the projects in the state, only 82 hectares have been acquired so far, meaning that construction can only take place on land that has already been allocated. Furthermore, three approved new line projects totaling 214 km (approved cost ₹17,622 crore) are currently under construction, including: Of these, 64 km have been commissioned and ₹8,280 crore has been spent so far. The proposed Bilaspur-Manali-Leh Strategic Line, for which survey and DPR work has been completed, is estimated to cost ₹1,31,000 crore and has been recognized as strategically important by the Ministry of Defence.
Mr. Anurag Singh said, “The Honorable Railway Minister, in his response, emphasized that the Central Government has the intent and funding to complete these projects, but the required state support in providing land, releasing the required funds, and obtaining legal approvals in a timely manner is not forthcoming. The Ministry’s written response clearly demonstrates that the State’s continued lack of commitment, including non-contribution, delays in land acquisition, and unresolved legal/approval issues, are significantly hindering the project timeline and increasing the risk of cost overruns. Furthermore, the Ministry reiterated that the Government of India is ready to complete and support the projects, provided the State provides the necessary support and contributions.”
Mr. Anurag Singh Thakur called for the immediate release of the state’s outstanding share and the early handover of the remaining land parcels, as well as an accelerated program for legal approvals. He called for the creation of a joint monitoring cell comprising representatives from the central, state, and railways, which would meet every two weeks until the necessary milestones are achieved and the project regains momentum.
Shri Anurag Singh Thakur reiterated his commitment to raise issues having a direct bearing on the development and well-being of Himachal Pradesh and asked the State Government to resolve the pending matters immediately to avoid further delays.
