Pathankot-Jogindernagar rail track expansion under consideration, says MP

MP Rajiv Bhardwaj today said the expansion of Pathankot-Jogindernagar rail line was under consideration with the Ministry Of Railways. Talking to reporters, Bhardwaj said he had already taken up the issue with Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw recently, who had directed the authorities to send him detailed reports in this regard, which would be the first step towards the expansion of 90–year-old rail track laid by the British. He said he hoped that in the next Budget, the railways would sanction the conversion of this rail into a broad gauge.

Bhardwaj said the Kangra valley rail line was considered as a lifeline of 40 lakh people of lower hills of the state and its expansion was his top priority. He said he had apprised the railway minister that China had expanded its rail network up to the border of Himachal and laid over hundred new railway lines in Tibet but India has done nothing for the expansion of its rail network. The government must clear the expansion of the Pathankot-Jogindernagar rail line project to link it with Bilaspur-Leh rail project at Mandi. He said he had also requested the minister to declare that this rail line was being constructed in Himachal as the ‘national project’ at par with the rail tracks being laid down in Kashmir and North East.

He said he had also taken up the issue pertaining to the construction of Chakki bridge, which was washed away three years ago. However, the minister had assured him to complete the construction of this bridge within a year. He said before the collapse of Chakki bridge, seven trains were running on this track daily between Pathankot and Baijnath. Now, there is no direct train connecting Pathankot and Jogindernagar, resulting in inconvenience to the public.