SME Times News Bureau | 27 Feb, 2013
Himachal Pradesh
Tuesday got one new train and other projects from Railway Minister Pawan Kumar
Bansal, but the state's opposition BJP described the railway budget for 2013-14
as "disappointing".
Presenting the annual budget of his ministry in Lok Sabha, Bansal announced
starting a new express train between Una and Hazur Sahib in Maharashtra, known
for its Sikh shrine.
Named Una-Hazur Sahib Nanded Express, the train will run once in a week via
Anandpur Sahib, Morinda, Chandigarh and Ambala.
Bansal also announced to conduct surveys in the next fiscal for Amb-Kangra via
Nadaun, Baddi-Bilaspur and Dharamsala-Palampur rail lines, all located in low
hills.
As part of skill development of the youths in railway-related trades, the
minister announced to set up one of the 25 centres in Shimla.
On the strategically important Bilaspur-Manali-Leh line connecting Himachal and
Ladakh region of Jammu and Kashmir, adjoining China border, Bansal announced he
would pursue approval of certain projects of national importance, including
this line.
BJP's national vice-president Shanta Kumar, who belongs to the hill state,
described the railway budget as discriminatory and disappointing.
"Despite the strategic importance of the Mandi-Manali-Leh rail line, the
central government has been indifferent towards its construction," he said
in a statement.