Bilaspur-Manali-Leh rail line of Rs. 22,831-cr on anvil

To provide quicker rail and road connectivity to the border belt of China and also to strengthen the network in areas located close to Tibet, the government has fast tracked the survey work of the 498 km long Bilaspur-Manali-Leh new railway line, which is planned at an investment of Rs. 22,831cr. On this score, railways has sought land from Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC) to set up camp office at Leh, said sources, elaborating that the region apart from being of strategic importance for securing the borders of the area, the Bilaspur-Manali-Leh railway line, is also expected to boost tourism potential of the area, right from Himachal Pradesh to Ladakh. The General Manager, Northern Railway, AK Puthia, has recently visited Leh along with the team of senior officers and discussed the issue of railway connectivity to Ladakh region with the local elected representatives and district administration. The Chairman, LAHDC, has advised to submit a formal application in this regard and further assured that the same would be given top-priority and hence land will not be a problem. The Bilaspur-Manali-Leh railway line would pass through Bilaspur, Mandi, Kullu and Lahaul-Spiti districts of Himachal Pradesh to reach Leh Ladakh.