The Hindu : National : Dhumal for speedy implementation of infrastructure projects

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Wednesday, Feb 20, 2008
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Dhumal for speedy implementation of infrastructure projects

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: Himachal Pradesh should not be neglected, Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal has urged Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to speed up all infrastructure projects in the State and take up the pending projects on a war footing, keeping in mind the security concerns of the country.

Mr. Dhumal said he had written a letter to the Prime Minister and had raised the matter during his recent meeting with him, drawing his attention to the fact that while China has connected Lahasa and Western Tibet with rail, its importance should not be lost on our side.

He said that keeping in mind the past experience, the importance of having an uninterrupted, reliable and high capacity supply line which was felt at that time should not be lost.

Improved connectivity

Mr. Dhumal said the road network connecting the hinterland with the order areas no doubt had improved but the cost of ferrying essential items to the border areas was prohibitive, apart from the usual hassles of ensuring the huge quantity of various articles to the defence personnel.

“China had been placed much better strategically with the Tibet rail line. To effectively counter this logistical superiority, I suggest that a narrow gauge rail track between Pathnkot-Joginder Nagar, shelved on account of supposedly a high cost of Rs.1000 crore, should be revived and work on converting it into a broad gauge should be taken up immediately,” the letter states.

Further, Mr. Dhumal has suggested that the Bhanupalli-Barmana-Manali proposed rail link should not only be taken up on priority but should be extended to the Ladakh region.

Mr. Dhumal said the Prime Minister was very responsive to the whole idea and had asked the Defence Ministry and the Railway Ministry to study the entire issue in detail.

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