The Rishikesh-Karnprayag rail line will enhance the development in mountainous regions while also boosting the Char Dham Yatra, said chief minister Trivendra Singh Rawat.
Inspecting the sites where work for this ambitious project is underway, he asked the officials concerned to further speed up execution of the works.
Rawat said that the Yog Nagri Rishikesh railway station to be built at the starting point of this rail line in Rishikesh, will help in making a unique image of the state and also facilitate rail service to various parts of the country.
Expressing satisfaction at the pace of the project execution, he asked the chiefs of the executing agencies to further expedite the work while also presenting the craft, culture and religious heritage of Uttarakhand in the works.
After inspecting various sites of the project, the CM had a meeting at Yog Nagri railway station with the chiefs of the executing agencies in Rishikesh. He said that special focus should be laid on ensuring that this project of immense value for Uttarakhand is completed within the given time frame with stress on quality.
The project will not only enhance Uttarakhand’s unique identity but will also make the Char Dham Yatra more convenient.
By working as a lifeline in the entire mountainous region, this project will also help in stalling migration, encouraging employment and boosting industrial development in the region. In addition to facilitating transport to the mountainous regions, this rail line will also help in facilitating better systems for education and health services, he said. Orders had been issued for opening single window clearance system in each district connected to the project. Rawat also directed PWD to expedite construction of the Byasi-Narkota road bridge. This will help the railways considerably in transport of heavy machinery. He also directed the power department to provide electricity connections soon in places sought by the railways.
Officials of the Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL) informed the CM that construction of 16 tunnels in the project has been divided into nine packages.
For all these packages, DD and PMC contracts have been awarded and the design work is underway. Similarly, work on the ROB across Alaknanda at Lachmoli and Srinagar has been started. The work on road bridge was started recently at Srinagar, Gauchar and Siwai.
Targets have been set to complete work on the Virbhadra- New Rishikesh block section by 2019-20, New Rishikesh-Devprayag block section by 2023-24 and Devprayag-Karnprayag block section by 2024-25. MP and BJP State president Ajay Bhatt was also among those present on the occasion.