The work of laying tracks for the much-awaited Rishikesh-Karnaprayag railway service will start from March 2017, informed the DGM of Rail Development Nigam ltd PP Bagoda on Wednesday after attending a meeting held to resolve the obstruction coming in the work in Pauri district. He said that international norms will be followed in the construction of tunnels and bridges. He further said that as lands would be acquired for the purpose agricultural works in some villages would be affected, adding that those who would be affected by the railway project might not get jobs directly by way of compensation. “However, it is possible that they would get jobs indirectly,” he said. He further said that the land technical inspection work from Rishikesh to Metha was being conducted now and it would be extended from Metha to Karnaprayag in two to three months.
The meeting held to evaluate the agricultural and other categories of land to be acquired for the project was presided over by Chief Development Officer Vijay Jogdande.
Notably, those representing the landowners to be affected by the project have turned down the proposed `44 thousand per nali and demanded the rate be increased to `2.5 lakh per nali.
Gram Pradhan of Dungripanth, Tribhuwan Rana said that the rate should be even higher, given the fact that `2.5 lakh per nali had been given to those affected by Srinagar Hydro Project. “Now, the market prices of the lands are much higher,” he said.