The Newz Radar
SHIMLA: The much-anticipated Una-Hamirpur new rail line, a pet project of Union Minister Anurag Thakur, has been notably absent from the interim budget this year, despite earlier announcements during the previous BJP government in Himachal Pradesh. Despite revising the detailed project report (DPR), the project failed to secure a place in the budget.
However, the Central Government has allocated a substantial sum of Rs 2,500 crore for three significant railway lines in Himachal Pradesh — strategically important Bhanupalli-Bilaspur-Barri, Nangal Dam-Talwara and Chandigarh-Baddi railway links. Among these, the Bhanupalli-Bilaspur-Barri rail line receives the lion’s share with an allocation of Rs 1,700 crore, followed by Nangal Dam-Talwara with Rs 500 crore and Chandigarh-Baddi with Rs 300 crore.
“The budgetary provisions underscore the government’s commitment to advancing crucial infrastructure projects, particularly in the wake of the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections. The prominence of the Bhanupalli-Bilaspur-Barri railway line is evident, with its budget increasing from Rs 1,000 crore in the 2023-24 fiscal to a revised amount of Rs 1,399 crore. Similarly, Nangal Dam-Talwara and Chandigarh-Baddi railway lines also witness increased allocations, signalling accelerated progress in their construction,” said an analyst.
With adequate budget allocations secured, rapid progress is anticipated in the construction of the 63-km Bhanupalli-Bilaspur rail line, the 84-km Nangal Dam-Talwara line and the 33-km Baddi-Chandigarh line. The active involvement of prominent figures from Himachal Pradesh, including BJP national president JP Nadda and Union Minister Anurag Thakur, has played a pivotal role in prioritising the state’s railway projects in the interim budget.
Furthermore, an additional budget provision of Rs 24 crore has been earmarked for the Kalka-Shimla and Pathankot-Jogindernagar railway lines, which will be utilised for various development works, further bolstering the state’s railway infrastructure.
