Karanprayag Rail line a priority project: GM/NR during IR’s 15-day Railyatri Upbhokta Pakhwada 2015

Karanprayag Rail line a priority project: GM/NR during IR’s 15-day Railyatri Upbhokta Pakhwada 2015

Haridwar Jn (HW): The Ministry of Railways is quite serious over the 120-km long Rishikesh-Karanprayag rail line project in Garhwal Himalayas, which will make the Char Dham Yatra easy for pilgrims.A survey is being done with the help of IIT-Roorkee and other concerned agencies. This   railway line is of strategic importance for India as Uttarakhand have borders with China and Nepal.This was stated by Northern Railways General Manager Ajay Kumar Puthia while talking to here today. He was here to inspect the facilities and cleanliness drive initiated by Union Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu.Citing railway project of Katra-Banihal in Jammu Kashmir and the recent announcement of new railway line being made by the railways in Manali-Leh, Kumar said railways had the technical capability to construct lines on the hill areas and the Karanprayag project was one which would pave the way for railway penetration in Uttarakhand.He said the expenditure on this project may escalate, as compared to earlier estimate of Rs 4,000 crore. A large number of tunnels are to be constructed for this project being carried out by Rail Vikas Nigam Limited.To meet the growing traffic on this route and electrification of the Haridwar-Dehradun railway line, the DRM said for this the forest clearance had come up as a major hindrance, for which talks were being held with the Forest Department, Raja Ji National Tiger Reserve Authority and the Uttarakhand government.   As part of cleanliness drive, the Northern Railways are giving special emphasis on cleanliness and sanitation at railway stations and in trains.Drinking water facility, toilets, wash yards and shelters are being erected at major railway stations including Haridwar and Dehradun.