New Delhi: Heeding to the defence ministry’s concern over China building rail lines between Lhasha and Xigaze, the two major cities of Tibet close to the borders with India, the Indian Railway has finalised an ambitious project to come up with a rail network in the areas located close to Tibet.
To start the survey work on the proposed new Bilaspur-Manali-Leh railway line estimated to cost over Rs 22,000 crore at the earliest, the Railway Ministry has sought land from the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council to set up the camp office at Leh.
The proposed 498 kilometre-long rail like will pass through Bilaspur, Mandi, Kullu and Lahaul-Spiti district of Himachal Pradesh to reach Delhi.
Apart from being of a strategic importance for the military, the proposed like is also expected to give a boost to the tourism potential right from Himachal Pradesh to Ladak.
Top officials of the ministry visited Leh recently to discuss the issue of the railway connectivity to Ladakh region with the local elected representatives and district administration.The railway ministry sources said the railway network is already being expanded in the Kashmir valley as also in the strategically significant state of Arunachal Pradesh.
The ministry has also ordered strengthening of the railway network near Nepal to counter China’s move to set up a rail link closer to Kathmandu and another parallel to Arunachal Pradesh.
