Rs 2,815-cr Una-Hamirpur rail link okayed: Anurag

Tribune News Service

Dharamsala, February 3

BJP MP from Hamirpur Anurag Thakur said the Una-Hamirpur railway line had been approved in the Union Budget 2017-18. While talking to The Tribune, he said about 50-m railway line would cost Rs 2,815 crore, adding that with the approval of the project, Una, Bilaspur and Hamirpur would now be linked with broad gauge railway line.

Anurag said, “I am happy and thankful to the Central Government for approving the Una-Hamirpur railway line as a part of the Union Budget 2017-18. This is a significant milestone for the state and I am humbled with the support offered by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu and Minister of State for Railways Manoj Sinha for approving the construction of the railway line.”

He said in June 2016 the survey for the Una-Hamirpur railway line was completed and in the Budget presented on February 1, 2017, the construction had been approved. This is a testimony of the Central Government’s growth-oriented approach.

“It is also a matter of great pride that the Hamirpur Parliamentary Constituency will become the first where all three districts will be connected through railway line. This will indeed be a major boost for the economic viability of the state at large,” he said.

Anurag said the road and rail connectivity was of utmost importance to the economy of the state. With the construction of the Una-Hamirpur railway line, the pressure of road transport was expected to ease considerably.

“The people of five districts will benefit from the railway line, as it is the first railway line connecting Hamirpur. This railway line will contribute significantly towards the economic advancement of the state,” he said.

Anurag said he had been making efforts to enhance connectivity in the state and this could be gauged from the fact that in the Union Budget 2017-18, Rs 400 crore had been sanctioned for railway expansion in the state. For Una–Talwara (Rs 100 crore) and Bhanupali-Bilaspur–Beri (Rs 250 crore) have been sanctioned in this financial year.

In the Railway Budget 2016-17, Rs 310 crore, and in 2015-16, Rs 355 crore were sanctioned, while during the regime of the UPA Government only Rs 40-50 crore used to get approved per annum for the expansion of railways in the state, he claimed.