Rlys wants Bilaspur-Leh line declared as national project

New Delhi, October 19

The Railways has proposed that its strategically significant Bilaspur-Manali-Leh line along the India-China border, which will be the world’s highest railway track, should be declared a national project, officials said on Wednesday.

It has also suggested that the construction on the 51-km stretch between Upshi in Himachal Pradesh and Phe in Leh should begin immediately.

“The first phase of the survey for the project has been completed and initial estimates put the cost of the 465-km line at Rs 83,360 crore. This is the most difficult project undertaken by the Railways and is one of the five most significant projects in terms of strategic importance.

“We have suggested that the project be declared a national project as once completed it will help our armed forces as well as boost tourism and lead to the development of the region,” said General Manager, Northern Railway, Vishesh Chaube.

The advantage of a venture being declared a national project is that a major chunk of the funding for it is borne by the Central government.

The project, which will have a highest road point of 5,360 metres above mean sea level, is comparable only to the Qinghai-Tibet railway line in China, which is at a height of around 2,000 metres above sea level.

The line once completed will connect important locations between Bilaspur and Leh like Sundernagar, Mandi, Manali, Keylong, Koksar, Darcha, Upshi and Karu and other important towns of Himachal Pradesh and J&K en route.

The project will include 74 tunnels, 124 major bridges and 396 minor bridges, according to the first phase of the survey. —PTI

Strategic significance

• The Bilaspur-Manali-Leh line along the India-China border once completed will connect important locations between Bilaspur and Leh like Sundernagar, Mandi, Manali, Keylong, Koksar, Darcha, Upshi and Karu and other important towns of HP and J&K en route
• The project will include 74 tunnels, 124 major bridges and 396 minor bridges, according to the first phase of the survey