Major Milestone Achieved for Bilaspur-Manali-Leh Rail Line Project
The Bilaspur-Manali-Leh rail line project has taken a significant step forward with approvals from the Finance and Defence Ministries. The proposal is now with the National Security Advisor (NSA) for further approval before heading to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) for final budget allocation and project commencement decisions.
With the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla rail link set to begin operations next month, attention will soon turn to the Bilaspur-Manali-Leh rail line. This project aims to enhance connectivity to the remote regions of Himachal Pradesh and Ladakh and will be constructed in four phases: Bilaspur to Mandi, Mandi to Manali, Manali to Upshi, and Upshi to Leh. A 13 km section from Leh to the China border will be dedicated to military needs, highlighting its strategic importance.
The project is expected to be completed by 2027, with the first train service from Bhanupalli to Bilaspur as the initial target. The Detailed Project Report (DPR) prepared in 2022 estimated the cost to exceed ₹1 lakh crore, but modifications, including larger safety tunnels, have increased the cost. These tunnels are designed to ensure passenger safety in emergencies.
A total of 2200 hectares of land will be acquired, with 572 hectares being forest land. The land acquisition cost is estimated at ₹11,500 crore. The project will also include five stations for loading and unloading goods, with approximately ₹62,000 crore allocated for bridges and tunnels.
