Regarding the approved new broad gauge railway line from Rishikesh to Karnprayag, Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat chaired a meeting with officials of the project executing agency the Rail Vikas Nigam limited (RVNl) at his camp office here on Monday.
Seeking detailed information about the project, he said that this project is important from various aspects.
This railway line will make the Char Dham Yatra more convenient while at the same time increase connectivity to the remote areas of the state with international borders. For this it is important for the rail project to be completed on time, said Rawat, while also directing RVNl officials that latest technology be used in tunnel making and other works in the project. He directed the district administration concerned to complete within the next two months, the review of the status of rehabilitation and resettlement due to the railway line.
The chief minister further directed the formation of a committee under the Garhwal commission for rehabilitation and resettlement. Wherever required, the Uttarakhand Power Corporation limited, Power Transmission Corporation of Uttarakhand limited and Public Works Department should provide the required cooperation, he said.
The RVNl chairman Satish Agnihotri informed that the total length of this rail project is 125 kilometres out of which 105 kilometres will be through tunnels. Along with this, a 98 kilometre long escape tunnel will also be constructed as part of the project. Apart from the Rishikesh-Karnprayag project, Rawat also sought information about the status of other projects including the new Roorkee-Devband rail line, Haridwar-laksar doubling work and development of facilities on the Haridwar-Dehradun rail line, while stressing that all the projects should be completed on priority basis. Cabinet minister Satpal Maharaj, chief secretary S Ramaswamy, secretaries Shailesh Bagauli, Arvind Singh Hyanki, Garhwal commissioner Vinod Sharma, principal chief conservator of forests RK Mahajan among other department officials were also present in the meeting.