Dhumal at Jaitley’s door for rly project funds

Tribune News Service

Shimla, December 10

Close on the heels of meeting of a high-level delegation of the BJP led by former Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal with Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu regarding the pending railway projects, Dhumal today met the Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and sought sufficient funds for expansion of rail network.

Dhumal informed Jaitley that the Union Government had approved the Bhanupali-Bilaspur-Mandi-Manali-Leh in principle as a project of strategic importance and requested him for release of funds for the project which would go a long way in strengthening the infrastructure and usher in a new era of prosperity.

Besides, tourism and horticulture sectors, which are important for economy of the hill state, would get a big boost, he said.

Dhumal also raised the issue of slow progress on of the Nangal-Una-Talwara Rail line project and said even after laying of the foundation stone in 1974, funds were not provided and the project was hanging fire and urged him to provide Rs 500 crore, besides funding the Chandigarh- Baddi rail line project which was of vital importance for industrial development.

He also asked the minister to provide funds for the construction of the 50 Km Una-Hamirpur rail line, estimated to cost Rs 2,816 crore. The survey of this line was completed in 2015 but work had not commenced, he said and also requested him to provide funds for conversion of Pathankot-Jogindernagar metre gauge railway line into broad gauze and its extension up to Mandi.

Dhumal also met BJP president Amit Shah in connection with his visit to Solan tomorrow and apprised him of the political situation and also informed him about the activities and programmes undertaken by the party.