The progress of ambitious Rishikesh-Karnprayag rail project was reviewed by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi via video conferencing on Wednesday. Heaping praise on the chief secretary Utpal Kumar Singh for finishing the works of land acquisition, forest clearance and other formalities in time, PM said that the pilgrims would be benefited by the project once it is completed. He also said that cottage industry and other small enterprises would come up in the area after the project is over.
CS informed the PM that work of first package of Rs 16216 crore project has started. In the first phase, 5.7 km Veerbhardra- New Rishikesh rail line is being taken up. He said that work on construction of yard, under bridge, over bridge and bridge over Chandrabhaga river is currently in progress.
The work on first phase would get completed by December 2018, he said, adding that 790 hectare land is needed for the mega project. The rail link would have 16 bridges, 17 tunnels and 12 railway stations. Singh said that geotechnical surveys are currently going on for seven packages of the project. One of the features of the project is that 105 km out of total 125 km rail line would run under tunnels.
During the video conferencing session, additional chief secretary Om Prakash, secretaries- A S Hyanki and R Meenkashi Sundaram- and director Rail Development Corporation Himanshu Badoni were present.