Uttarakhand seeks rail development on lines of North East
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Dr Ramesh Pokhariyal Nishank has called for development of rain network in the state on the lines of the North East. In a meeting with the Chairman of the Railway Board SS Khurana held here on Saturday, Nishank said that the Centre should pay special attention to the requirements of Uttarakhand as it is a tourist destination visited by lakhs of people every year from across the world.
Nishank pointed that since the state shares international borders, it is all the more necessary to have proper rail connectivity here. Stating that rail connectivity should also be provided from stations other than Dehradun and Kathgodam, he called for early laying down of railway tracks and starting of rail services between Rishikesh and Karnprayag, Tanakpur and Bageshwar, Dehradun and Kalsi, Ramnagar and Chaukhutiya along with Kicha and Khatima. Nishank also sought a new train between Ramshwaram and Hardwar.
The Chief Minister said that work on building railway over bridges at Lacchiwala, Luxor, Kashipur and Motichur be expedited. These are places where elephants are often on the move.
There were discussions on extension and management of rail facilities during the forthcoming Kumbh Mela at Hardwar.
Khurana pointed that a sum of Rs 100 crore has been earmarked for developing railways in the state. He pointed that Dehradun is being developed as a model railway station and efforts are on to facilitate movement of 24 coach trains from here. He pointed that the state government will have to come forward with providing land for expansion of rail network in the state. The Chairman said that a special plan for the Kumbh Mela is also on the anvil. He promised that starting of rail projects in Uttarakhand will be given priority by his department. Senior state officials including the Chief Secretary Indu Kumar Pande were also present in the meeting.
