Leader of the Opposition Jai Ram Thakur has blamed the Sukhu government's indifference for the delay in railway expansion in Himachal Pradesh. He stated that while the central government has allocated sufficient budget for the projects, the slow pace of action on the ground by the state government is affecting the work.
Himachal Pradesh: In Shimla, Leader of the Opposition Jai Ram Thakur spoke about the delay in important rail projects, including the Bhanupalli–Bilaspur–Beri line, due to the state government's indifference and lack of land acquisition, despite the central government allocating ₹2,716 crore in the 2025-26 budget. Accusing the Sukhu government of not cooperating in the projects, Thakur appealed to the Chief Minister to complete the work according to the rules.
The main reason for the delay in railway projects is the indifference of the Sukhu government
Regarding the continuous delay in railway expansion projects in Himachal Pradesh, Leader of the Opposition Jai Ram Thakur has made serious allegations against the Congress' Sukhu government. Thakur said that the state government is shirking its responsibility and not cooperating in its share of the work, including the necessary land acquisition for railway projects. He stated that the progress of projects has been hampered due to a significant shortfall in land acquisition for the Bhanupalli-Bilaspur-Beri rail line, while the central government has already spent ₹5,251 crore on this project.
Thakur also mentioned that the state government still owes ₹1,789 crore, which is causing delays in the completion of railway projects. The letter given to the state government by the Chairman of the Railway Board was also ignored. He said that the price of this indifference is being paid by the development of the state, which is neither in the interest of the people of Himachal nor in the interest of development.
Central Government's Budget Provisions and Current Status of Projects
Jai Ram Thakur said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the central government is providing sufficient budget for Himachal's railway projects. A total of ₹2,716 crore has been allocated for three major rail projects for the financial year 2025-26, which is more than the previous year's budget. These include ₹1,700 crore for the Bhanupalli–Bilaspur–Beri rail line, ₹500 crore for Nangal Dam–Talwara, and ₹300 crore for Chandigarh–Baddi.
Thakur said that the Bhanupalli–Bilaspur–Beri rail line is 63 kilometers long, while Nangal Dam–Talwara is 84 kilometers and Chandigarh–Baddi is 33 kilometers long. Work is ongoing on these projects, but these works will be further accelerated only after the Himachal Pradesh government pays its share of the budget. He also expressed gratitude to the central government that the budget received for railway expansion for the last three years is 25 times more than that of the UPA government.
Political unity is necessary to accelerate projects
Jai Ram Thakur has urged the Chief Minister to set aside political differences and complete the work on the projects according to the rules and conditions. A better rail network will not only boost Himachal's economic progress, but will also ensure industrialization and better connectivity. The slow progress of railway projects is affecting the development of remote areas of the state, which needs to be rectified soon.
