Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Uttarakhand should get its share in the Rail budget

UNION RAILWAY minister Mamata Banerjee must not ignore the long pending demands of the people from Uttarakhand in Railway budget. And this not only Uttarakhand chief minister Ramesh Pokhariyal ‘Nishank's' feeling but also the people of state feel that Uttarakhand should not be ignored in the budget as the development of railways in the state would open new employment avenues for the youth. This will also  help in boosting the economic growth thus making the state grow prosperous.

Several important railway projects were announced earlier by the railway ministers for Uttarakhand in which Tanakpur-Bageshwar and Haridwar-Karnaprayag were prominent besides laying of a new broad gauge line between Kiccha and Khatima, survey for a new broad gauge line between Dehradun and Chandigarh. But instead of new projects even the work on Lal Kuan-Bareilly gauge conversion, Tanakpur-Pilibhit gauge conversion, doubling of railway line between Laksar-Haridwar-Dehradun, Haridwar-Rishikesh and its electrification is also pending following crunch of financial resources.

There was proposal to convert Lal Kuan junction into a full-fledged junction with at least six platforms to operate many express and passengers trains from here as there was no space available at Kathgodam which is right now the last rail head on this route. There is also a need to electrify the rail route from Najibabad to Kotdwar. By taking up of electrification upto the last rail heads in all stations, the railways would save money on diesel besides it will also end the pollution emitting out from diesel railway engines.

The Tanakpur-Bageshwar rail link is being looked as a strategic rail route following proximity to China border and as China is building up its military might with adequate infrastructure in areas bordering India, we need to build this rail links as it will cut down travelling time too between the two places to a great extent. The rail connectivity in the remote areas of this hilly state would also help the goods getting transported in an economical manner.

Besides improvement in rail connectivity will promote tourism and help small farmers of the state for promoting their business. It will give many people a chance to get employed in their own district thus it will put a check on the migration of people too.

Well all eyes are set on Mamta Banerjee now and the people of Uttarakhand are hoping that their demands are included in the Rail budget.

Also Check Out >> Industry Expectations, Railway Budget Highlights

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