Dhumal miffed at ignoring Himachal’s interest in rail budget

Shimla: Chief Minister Proff. Dhumal termed the rail budget as disappointing and charged once again the interests of Himachal Pradesh were ignored.

He said that by not including Bhanupali-Beri-Mandi-Kullu-Manali-Leh rail line in the Budget proposal the security and defense of the Country had also been ignored.

“China has constructed railway line from Beijing to Lhasa and was expanding rail and road network towards India. On the other hand India is ignoring the construction of this rail line of strategic importance which was unfortunate” he said.

He said the Nangal-Talwara rail line on which the work was started long back had also been ignored again although the Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh had announced to complete it by 2008.

Similarly no mention of Bhanupalli-Beri rail line had been made in the Budget despite the fact that State Government has made provision of Rs. 62 crores for this during last two years, he added.

He said that it was unfortunate that the Union Rail Minister either see the interest of his or her State or some other consideration in the matter of expansion of railway network but forget the interests of the country as a whole which was unfortunate.