*Survey completed, Rs 1.31 lakh cr DPR ready
Govind Sharma
JAMMU, Dec 7: The lack of cooperation and unmet financial commitments from the Himachal Pradesh Government are significantly slowing down progress on the Bhanupli-Bilaspur-Beri stretch of the Bhanupli-Bilaspur-Manali-Leh railway corridor-one of India’s most strategically important future rail networks.
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Detailing the current status, financial position, land acquisition progress, and technical challenges shaping the project, highly placed sources in the Railway Ministry told Excelsior although the Centre is fully prepared to fast-track execution, success depends upon the support of Government of Himachal Pradesh.
“The Bhanupli-Bilaspur-Beri new rail line (63 km), sanctioned on a cost-sharing basis, has seen 82 hectares acquired out of the required 124.02 hectares. However, the project has already incurred Rs 5,252 crore, while Rs 1,843 crore remains pending from the Himachal Government-an overdue contribution that “is adversely affecting the project,” they claimed.
Sources noted that state-level delays-particularly in fulfilling commitments and providing support on land acquisition and clearances-are impeding progress on an otherwise fast-tracked national project.
They stated that the Bilaspur-Manali-Leh line-spanning 489 km and crucial for defence logistics-has been officially designated as a strategic railway by the Ministry of Defence. Surveys are complete, and the Detailed Project Report (DPR) pegs the anticipated cost at Rs 1,31,000 crore, underscoring the scale of construction through some of the world’s toughest terrain.
Sources emphasized that all large Himalayan projects face delays arising from forest approvals, geological unpredictability, difficult topography, shifting utilities and limited working months. Steep gradients, tunnelling requirements and unstable rock strata continue to be major technical challenges.
On the Nangal-Una-Talwara line, the sources stated that the 60 km Nangal Dam-Daulatpur Chowk stretch has been operational since 2019 while the work on the remaining Daulatpur Chowk-Talwara stretch is underway with Rs 2,568 crore already spent.
However, they said that multiple Punjab-based new lines-including Firozpur-Patti (26 km), Qadian-Beas and Rama Mandi-Talwandi Sabo-remain blocked due to zero land acquisition by the State. Despite awards being published in 2023 for the Firozpur-Patti line, disbursement has not begun. Owing to the strategic sensitivity of the Firozpur region, Railways has now decided to execute the Patti line using its own funding.
On the query of revised deadlines and reasons for delays, sources stated that timelines for large infrastructure projects depend on factors such as timely land acquisition, environmental & forest clearances, local cooperation and law-and-order conditions, terrain and geological conditions, and availability of state contributions.
They reiterated that Railway is “geared up to execute projects,” but progress hinges on whether States resolve pending land and financial issues promptly.
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