Disappointing, says Virbhadr

Disappointing, says Virbhadra

Pratibha Chauhan

Tribune News Service

Shimla, February 26

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh today termed the Railway Budget as disappointing and full of hollow ideas and promises without any substance.

“It is very unfortunate that despite the state government’s repeated requests for extension of the existing rail lines, especially the Bhanupali-Bilapsur-Beri line till Leh, no announcement was made for the people of the state,” he said. He said despite the great strategic importance of the Bhanupali rail line being extended to Bilaspur-Manali and further Leh, the rail line would have helped the state in promoting industry and tourism in the interior parts of the state.

With India keen to strengthen its infrastructure along its borders with China, Himachal was hopeful that the Manali-Leh strategic rail line would get the Centre’s nod. Even during the Kargil war, the Manali-Leh road came in very handy as an alternate route for carrying defence supplies as the Kargil-Srinagar road came under heavy firing by the Pakistan army.