By IANS,
Shimla : Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal Sunday asked the railways to start the construction of a rail line in the state that the Prime Minister’s Office had cleared in 2007.
Dhumal sought intervention of Railway Minister Dinesh Trivedi on the Bhanupalli-Bilaspur-Beri rail project as its delay would add to cost over-runs and would not meet the completion target of 2015, said a statement.
He said as per the decision the railways ministry had to execute this project with funding of 75:25 between the central and state governments.
“The railway ministry later changed the funding pattern through the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs without consultation of the state which is unfortunate. Now discontinuation of land acquisition work by the ministry is also surprising. It would not only delay the completion of the project and but also add to the cost over-runs. It is not likely to be completed by December 2015,” Dhumal said.
He also urged Trivedi to make adequate budgetary provisions for 2012-13 for timely completion of the Nangal-Talwara broad gauge rail line.
He said only laid 44 km track of this line has been laid and the remaining 39 km is yet to be laid.
The chief minister also sought the construction of Baddi-Kalka rail line as its survey has been completed and the report submitted in April 2011.