Survey of Pathankot-Leh rail line in 2 years: AK Puthia, GM/NR.

The survey of the Pathankot– Jogindernagar-Leh strategic railway project linking Pathankot with the China boarder is in progress and it will take over two years for completion.

Disclosing this to mediapersons here today, A K Putia, General Manager, North Railway said, being a difficult topography having high mountains that remain covered with snow for nine months in a year, it was a hard and time consuming task to prepare a survey report. The Railway Ministry needed a detailed survey report of this project to be placed before the Union Cabinet for final approval.

Putia said it had been agreed not to disturb the existing rail tack which would soon be declared as heritage asset of the Railways at par with the Shimla-Kalka rail line.

He said the Government of India had given special importance to connect all the border areas with rail lines and linking China boarders was top priority. He admitted that at present there was negligible road link with Leh and there was necessity to link Leh with rail line. However, final decision in this regard and funding of project would be finalised by the Central Government.

Kangra valley narrow gauge railway line, which plays a significant role in the economy of the northern region of the state, was laid in 1926 by Britishers linking all important and religious towns of Kangra and part of Mandi districts. The main object to lay this track was to carry heavy equipment for the installation of the first-ever hydro electric power house of the northern India at Jogindernagar which later electrified undivided Himachal, Punjab, Delhi and part of Pakistan.

At present seven trains are plying on this route daily covering 33 stations passing through important places like Nurpur, Jwali, Jwalamukhi Road, Kangra, Nagrota Bagwan, Chamunda, Palampur, Baijnath and Jogindernagar, which are also the major tourists attraction centres of the state. Railway authorities have been extending step motherly treatment to this rail section. No efforts have been made even to set up a proper ticket window at Pathankot for this section.

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