Senior BJP leader Shanta Kumar has asked for the early execution of the Jogindernagar-Leh railway line project. He said that this railway line project is a defence requirement of the country and in the present situation; the Central Government should give top priority to this rail project.
In a press statement at his hometown Palampur, Shanta Kumar said that the China had already expanded its rail network up to Lhasa in Tibet and Arunachal, whereas in the past 40 years India had not added even a single brick for the expansion of rail or road network up to the Tibet border.
He said that at present there was a negligible road network to Leh that was accessible only for four months in a year. Most of the defence supplies were airlifted from Chandigarh and other places resulting in a huge financial burden on the exchequer.
The BJP leader said financial crunch should not come in the way of the execution of this project and the Centre should go ahead for global tenders. He added that at present crores of rupees were spent by the Ministry of Defence for the movement of troops and supplies to Leh and other forward areas, the same could be saved if the rail track was laid for Leh. Besides, the project would also boost tourism as Leh and Laddakh would remain connected with rail line throughout the year.
He said that the state would extend its full cooperation and support for the speedy and early execution of the project. There would be no delay on part of the state government in the acquisition of land if the Union Government approved the project.
