Indian Railways' big update on Bilaspur-Manali-Leh line: Ashwini Vaishnaw says mega Kargil project will cost Rs 1.31 lakh crore

The Centre recently said that the new Bilaspur-Manali-Leh railway line will cost staggering Rs 1,31,000 crore to the National Exchequer. This high-altitude railway link will provide connectivity to geopolitically sensitive Kargil. The announcement was part of a written reply by Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw in the Lok Sabha during ongoing session of Parliament.

The minister further added that a detailed project report on the Bilaspur-Manali-Leh line has been prepared. He also said that the officials have completed the survey of the railway link.

Vaishnaw also said that the Bilaspur-Manali-Leh line, which is 489-km-long, has been identified as a strategic line by the Ministry of Defence. Part of this railway link falls in the Union Territory of Ladakh, Vaishnaw added.

Furthermore, the railway minister also spoke about the Srinagar-Kargil-Leh rail project. Vaishnaw said that the expected cost of project was Rs 55,896 crore in the survey that was was carried out in 2016-17. "However, due to low traffic projections, the project could not be taken forward," the railway minister said.

In the Union Budget announced last month, the Indian Railways had received an allocation of Rs 2.52 lakh crore. At that time, Vaishnaw had also said that the approval of major projects such as 100 Amrit Bharat trains and 200 Vande Bharat have been secured. In a press conference at Rail Bhawan, Vaishnaw had said that the ministry will aim to finish the new projects worth Rs 4.6 lakh crore will be completed within next five years.